TB (preventable and curable) remains SA's leading killer

AS THE world observed World TB Day this year, Aids Healthcare Foundation South Africa (AHF) is sounding the alarm on tuberculosis (TB), which remains South Africa’s leading cause of death.

- SYATHEMBA NXELE, NQABA MTROBOSI, MAXIME MOLUSO & MMATHSIE TSOETSI

Despite progress in diagnosis and treatment, TB continues to claim thousands of lives each year – more than HIV and malaria combined. AHF is calling for urgent and coordinated action to accelerate TB prevention, improve diagnosis and treatment, and strengthen the country’s response to drug-resistant TB (DR-TB).

Globally, TB claimed 1.25 million lives in 2023, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

Multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) remains a serious public health crisis, with only two in five people receiving treatment for drug-resistant TB in 2023. Nearly 11 million people fell ill with TB last year, with more than 80% of cases and deaths occurring in low-and middle-income countries like South Africa.

While the global incidence of TB is declining, progress is far too slow and inconsistent to meet international targets. An estimated $22 billion is needed annually to end TB (WHO) if we are to end TB by 2027 – less than 48 months from now, yet global funding continues to fall short, prompting a need to address governments on innovative funding models to strengthen Domestic Resource Mobilisation.

Relying only on existing health financing models without exploring innovative health financing solutions undermines South Africa’s ability to sustain an effective TB response. Addressing TB requires significant investment from national health budgets, which are already under strain. Yet, opportunities such as public-private partnerships (PPPs) remain underutilised in the health sector.