The World Health Organization (WHO) has released a new policy brief to assist national tuberculosis (TB) programmes in improving how they set priorities, allocate resources, and make strategic decisions.
The brief is intended to guide countries in planning their TB responses more efficiently, particularly in the context of limited resources and changing health system pressures.
The document promotes a structured, evidence informed, and people centred approach to TB programme planning. It highlights the importance of transparency, inclusion of relevant stakeholders, accountability, and the systematic use of data to guide decision making.
By following these principles, countries can ensure that the interventions they prioritize are based on objective evidence and address the needs of the populations most affected by TB.
Practical strategies outlined in the brief aim to mitigate the impact of funding gaps and pressures on health systems. Key recommendations include improving efficiency within TB programmes, integrating TB services into broader primary health care systems, and safeguarding interventions that have the highest impact in preventing illness and saving lives.
The brief emphasises that these measures can help countries maintain continuity of essential TB services even during periods of financial constraints or other disruptions.
WHO underscores that priority setting is not a one time activity. Rather, it should be treated as an ongoing process that functions as a compass, helping countries adapt their TB response as epidemiological patterns change, resources fluctuate, and health systems evolve. This approach allows programmes to remain flexible and responsive to emerging challenges while maintaining focus on long term TB control goals.
The guidance also highlights the urgent need for investment in TB programmes. In 2024, global funding for TB reached only US$ 5.9 billion, well below the estimated level required to meet the targets set in the End TB Strategy and other global commitments.
The WHO brief positions priority setting as essential for countries seeking to maximise the impact of the limited resources they have, protect gains already made in TB control, and accelerate progress towards ending TB as a public health threat.
The policy brief is intended for programme managers, policy makers, donors, and other stakeholders involved in TB control. It encourages countries to adopt a transparent and participatory process, to use the best available data, and to focus on high impact interventions that save lives and reduce the burden of disease.
By following the recommendations, countries can strengthen their TB programmes, make better informed decisions about resource allocation, and ultimately improve outcomes for people affected by tuberculosis worldwide.
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