Tuberculosis (TB) is the world's deadliest infectious disease, and the leading killer of people with HIV. TB is curable, but it can be difficult to diagnose and tough to treat, especially for increasingly prevalent drug-resistant TB. In 2023, 22,700 people started TB treatment in MSF programs. Understanding the costs and cost-effectiveness associated with TB treatment and innovations, ranging from TB diagnostics and medications to TB care models, can help to plan resource needs and allocate resources effectively. Analyzing financing mechanisms can support developing sustainable funding models for TB control.

This collection spotlights articles by MSF and collaborators to analyze and document the costs of care, particularly diagnostics and medications.

On June 30th-July 1, 2022 the research team at Epicentre in Mbarara, Uganda held a two-day workshop about their recent work to address gaps in tuberculosis diagnostics and therapeutics in low-income countries. Sessions included:

• Landscape of TB disease in Uganda: research gaps

• New diagnostic tools and algorithms in adults

• New diagnostic tools and algorithms in children

• Approaches to increasing pediatric TB detection and reducing disease burden

• TB chemotherapeutics

• Perspectives and challenges in TB

To catch up on the presentations, you can view the abstracts through the link below.