WHO report signals urgent need for greater political commitment to end TB; TB remains leading infectious killer.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has started preparations for a rapid review of its interim guidance on the use of delamanid in the treatment of patients with multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB). This follows the release of the phase III randomised control trial results by Otsuka Pharmaceutical at the 48th Union World Conference on Lung Health on 13 October.

WHO report highlights TB as a top priority for research and development of new antibiotics.

Male, Maldives, 10 September 2017 - World Health Organization has called on countries in South-East Asia Region to build on recent momentum aimed at ending TB by 2030, commending their resolve to take action and urging all countries to review and align national plans with the Delhi Call to Action.

01 September 2017 - WHO has just prequalified a two-pills-in-one paediatric medicine that is critical for the continuation phase of the six-month treatment required to cure tuberculosis (TB). The medicine – rifampicin 75mg + isoniazid 50mg – is a fixed dose combination (FDC) tablet manufactured by Macleods Pharmaceuticals Limited. WHO medicines prequalification activities are partly funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and by Unitaid.

Geneva, 30 August 2017 – Recognizing the need for innovative tools and strategies to bolster the country’s response to end TB, Thailand’s national TB research network (ThaiTurn) has just launched the country’s first national TB research roadmap. The roadmap includes research priorities targeted at addressing health systems challenges, as well as the prevention and treatment of multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB).

17 July 2017 | GENEVA - The SDG Health Price Tag, published today in The Lancet Global Health, estimates the costs and benefits of progressively expanding health services in order to reach 16 Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) health targets in 67 low- and middle-income countries that account for 75% of the world’s population.

A new document provides a strategic overview of key implementation considerations for diagnostic integration using testing devices for TB, HIV and viral hepatitis.

Like the established World Health Organization (WHO) Essential Medicines List, the Essential Diagnostics List is intended to provide evidence-based guidance to countries to create their own national lists of essential diagnostic tests and tools.

The World Health Organization is inviting feedback via an online consultation on the Zero Draft of the Declaration proposed for the Global Ministerial Conference on TB to be held in Moscow on 16-17 November 2017.