Closing the Gap to End TB: Strategic Priorities for the WHO South-East Asia Region
Overview
The WHO South-East Asia Region remains central to the global fight against tuberculosis (TB). According to the WHO Global Tuberculosis Report 2025 (2024 data), an estimated 3.68 million (95% UI: 3.25–4.15 million) people developed TB in the WHO South-East Asia Region in 2024, equivalent to an incidence rate of 201 (95% UI: 177–226) per 100 000 population (1). Mortality remains high: an estimated 433 000 TB deaths occurred among HIV-negative people in 2024, plus a further 13 000 deaths among people with HIV (1). Drug-resistant TB (DR-TB) continues to pose a serious threat, with an estimated 150 000 people developing multidrug- or rifampicin-resistant TB (MDR/RR-TB) in the Region in 2024 (1). Nearly half of TBaffected households (44%) face catastrophic costs, reflecting persistent socioeconomic vulnerability (2,3). Accelerated action will require stronger integration with primary health care (PHC) and universal health coverage (UHC) reforms, alongside sustained financing, innovation and multisectoral accountability.
Recent recovery in services and treatment performance is encouraging but remains insufficient in relation to the scale of the epidemic, as well as the 2025 and 2030 End TB milestones (4,5). The Region remains off track on key outcome targets; by 2030, the End TB Strategy calls for a 90% reduction in TB deaths, an 80% reduction in TB incidence and zero TB-affected households facing catastrophic costs, compared with 2015 levels. Gains could be undermined if financial and policy momentum are not sustained. Modelling indicates that progressively combining improved treatments, improved diagnostics, targeted prevention, active case finding (ACF) and future TB vaccine introduction could substantially accelerate reductions in TB incidence and mortality, providing an evidence base for the strategic priorities presented in this document. This document is intended to support policy dialogue and strategic prioritisation of the highest-impact actions required to accelerate progress in the WHO South-East Asia Region.
Target audience: Ministries of health, national TB programmes and partners, including communities
