The WHO supports India's fight against MDR-TB

I was quoted in the article "Global TB Fight Hits a Wall" (page one, Feb. 16) in a way that implies the World Health Organization is critical of the work of the Revised National TB Control Program of India. This isn't the case. The comments made in my interview with the reporter focused on WHO recommendations, not the government of India's implementation of them. India is addressing the issue of multi-drug-resistant tuberculosis with a plan endorsed by international experts, including the WHO, during the latest monitoring mission in August. The WHO has worked closely with India for the past two decades to address this public health crisis, and we commend the prioritization given to this issue by the government.