The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a renewed appeal for accelerating tuberculosis (TB) research in the South-East Asia region, warning that without urgent action, the region may fall short of the global target to end TB by 2030. This call comes amid persistent challenges in TB control, including knowledge gaps, limited research uptake, and insufficient collaborative frameworks across countries in the region.

TB remains one of the deadliest infectious diseases globally, with the WHO estimating that millions of people still fall ill each year despite decades of control measures. South-East Asia bears a disproportionate share of the global TB burden, accounting for a significant portion of new cases and TB-related deaths annually.

The urgency for research scale-up

According to the WHO’s latest report, research uptake in TB prevention and treatment across the South-East Asia region remains uneven, with some countries advancing rapidly while others lag far behind. The organisation warns that without coordinated efforts to bridge these disparities, TB elimination will remain out of reach.

The WHO statement highlights that scientific research is the backbone of effective TB control—enabling innovations in diagnostics, treatment regimens, and preventive therapies. However, many countries in the region struggle to move research outcomes into policy and practice due to insufficient funding, lack of skilled personnel, and poor cross-border cooperation.

Dr. Saima Wazed, WHO Regional Director for South-East Asia, stressed that ending TB requires not just medical interventions, but also political will, financial investment, and public awareness. She urged governments, research institutions, and NGOs to work together in creating an environment that fosters innovation and knowledge sharing.

Barriers to TB research in the region

The WHO report identifies several critical barriers:

• Knowledge gaps in understanding TB transmission dynamics in diverse socio-economic settings.

• Limited platforms for knowledge exchange and collaboration among scientists, policymakers, and healthcare providers.

• Underfunding of TB research initiatives compared to other global health priorities.

• Slow adaptation of global TB research findings into local public health strategies.

Many of these challenges are rooted in structural weaknesses in national health systems, particularly in low- and middle-income countries where TB incidence is highest.

Potential strategies for improvement

To address these challenges, the WHO recommends:

1. Increasing investment in TB research and development at both national and regional levels.

2. Creating regional knowledge hubs to promote collaboration and data sharing.

3. Strengthening public-private partnerships for faster implementation of research findings.

4. Engaging communities to ensure that TB interventions are culturally sensitive and widely accepted.

The road to 2030

The WHO’s End TB Strategy, launched in 2014, set ambitious goals: a 90% reduction in TB deaths and an 80% reduction in new cases by 2030 compared to 2015 levels. While progress has been made in some South-East Asian countries, the COVID-19 pandemic severely disrupted TB services, causing a surge in undetected and untreated cases.

WHO officials warn that time is running out, and without immediate scaling-up of research, the region risks reversing years of progress. The organisation emphasises that ending TB is possible, but only through sustained commitment, funding, and innovation.

The renewed focus on research is seen as a critical step towards filling knowledge gaps, improving treatment accessibility, and strengthening prevention measures. With over 600 million people in the South-East Asia region at potential risk, the WHO’s message is clear: research can save lives, but only if it is prioritised and acted upon now.

The Upcoming IPOs in this week and coming weeks are Regaal Resources, Mahendra Realtors and Infrastructure, Bluestone Jewellery and Lifestyle, Icodex Publishing Solutions.

The Current active IPO are Star Imaging and Path Lab, Medistep Healthcare, ANB Metal Cast, ConnPlex Cinemas, ALL Time Plastics, JSW Cement, Sawaliya Foods Products.

Start your Stock Market Journey and Apply in IPO by Opening Free Demat Account in Choice Broking FinX.

Join our Trading with CA Abhay Telegram Channel for regular Stock Market Trading and Investment Calls by CA Abhay Varn - SEBI Registered Research Analyst.