Plenary 1 - End TB strategy 2035
Mat Zuki Mat Jaeb
Raja Perempuan Zainab II Hospital, Kota Bahru, Kelantan, Malaysia
The End TB Strategy 2035 was developed by the World Health Organization (WHO) and endorsed by the Sixty-Seventh World Health Assembly in 2014 aims to “end the global TB epidemic” by 2035 with zero deaths and suffering due to the disease. The strategy targets a 90% reduction in patients suffering from TB, and a 95% reduction in deaths from TB while protecting families from catastrophic costs, by 2035 compared with 2015. Three frameworks were established to facilitate the adoption of end TB strategy:
1) integrated, patient-centered care and prevention
2) bold policies and supportive systems
3) intensified research and innovation
Malaysia is classified by WHO as a country with an intermediate TB burden, vow to adapt the policy and guidelines by WHO to achieve these targets.
Unfortunately, in 2023 WHO reported that the targets set were missed, globally. The annual declines in TB incidence that are necessary to end TB are nowhere near being achieved. Similarly, Malaysia experienced increasing TB cases and TB mortality rate over the years, which is far from the target as compared to 2015.
To reduce burden of TB in Malaysia and achieve the goals, major transformation in national TB control program is required. More pro-active, robust and concerted multi-sectoral efforts, equitable access to quality health care, enhanced community health system with adequate, sustainable financing and strong political will, scaling-up point-of-care diagnostics tests, shorter TB treatment, more effective TB vaccine and research for implementations are urgently needed.
References
1. The End TB Strategy: global strategy and targets for tuberculosis prevention, care and control after 2015. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2015 (https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/WHO-HTM-TB-2015.19)
2. Global Tuberculosis Report 2023. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2023 (https://www.who.int/teams/global-tuberculosis-programme/tb-reports)
3. J.M. Chakaya et al. International Journal of Infectious Diseases 92S (2020) S51–S54
4. Matteelli A, Rendon A, Tiberi S, et al. Eur Respir Rev 2018; 27: 180035