Ending TB in Southeast Asia
TB0036
Bhatia V, Srivastava R, Reddy KS, et al. Ending TB in Southeast Asia: current resources are not enough. BMJ Global Health 2020;5:e002073. doi:10.1136/ bmjgh-2019-002073
In 2018, TB incidence declined but remained high in the WHO Southeast Asia Region (WHO SEAR). WHO SEAR consists of 11 member states: Bangladesh, Bhutan, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, India, Indonesia, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Timor-Leste. The region accounts for nearly half of all new TB cases and over 50% of TB deaths globally (excluding TB-HIV coinfection). Thailand is the only high-burden country in the region with high domestic spending on TB. Increased spending on TB is necessary to prevent it from remaining a serious threat by 2030. Bangladesh, India, and Indonesia need to increase their health sector allocations due to currently low public health spending. Rapid expansion of future funding requires strengthening the capacity to absorb and efficiently spend funds across the region. Domestic financing will be crucial for sustainability, with taxes being an important channel for additional funding. Donor funding remains key for low-income countries and is vital for global TB programs. International development agencies need to collaborate with national governments to generate additional resources and provide technical support. Engaging the private sector in TB programs can help raise funding and enhance response effectiveness. Corporate Social Responsibility mandates in some countries should be leveraged to increase resources. Results-based financing can improve spending efficiency and reduce the need for additional resources in resource-constrained settings.
[Yoseph Samodra]
Bhatia V, Srivastava R, Reddy KS, et al. Ending TB in Southeast Asia: current resources are not enough. BMJ Global Health 2020;5:e002073. doi:10.1136/ bmjgh-2019-002073
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