THE World Health Organization (WHO) Western Pacific region said that the Philippines is among the top five countries with a high burden of tuberculosis (TB) cases.
In a statement on Monday for World TB Day, the WHO said there were an estimated 2.9 million TB cases globally, with the Philippines, Indonesia and China ranking among the top five high-burden countries.
Despite improvements in TB prevention and treatment, the WHO said the Philippines continues to face challenges such as stagnant funding, persistent risk factors including undernutrition, smoking and alcohol use, and diabetes, and competing health priorities.
The WHO emphasized the need for stronger political commitment, innovation and decentralized care to address TB effectively.
“Ending TB in the Western Pacific Region is achievable — if we transform care, decentralize services, and act with ever greater urgency,” said Dr. Saia Ma’u Piukala, WHO regional director for the Western Pacific.
The WHO said that ending TB is achievable if countries strengthen primary health care, expand access to diagnostic tools, and protect progress made in combating the disease.
Integrated TB services at the primary health care level are seen as a pivotal strategy to improve early detection, reduce treatment delays, and prevent transmission.
WHO urged governments in high-burden countries like the Philippines to accelerate the use of near-point-of-care molecular tests, which detect TB more quickly and accurately. These tools are critical to improving diagnosis and treatment outcomes in underserved areas.
It also highlighted the importance of sustained domestic investments in TB care, claiming that every dollar invested in TB programs can generate up to $43 in health and economic returns.
