Philippines sees persistently high tuberculosis cases, concerns raised

On World Tuberculosis Day, the Department of Health (DOH) in the Philippines expressed concern about the high rate of tuberculosis (TB) cases in the country. This raises alarm since TB is preventable and treatable. Health Secretary Ted Herbosa addressed the issue during the launch of a new TB treatment center. He noted that there were 546,452 reported TB cases in 2024, which is fewer than in the previous year but still far from the goal of a TB-free Philippines. He mentioned a small decrease in TB deaths, which went from 20,605 in 2022 to 20,588 in 2023, showcasing that progress is being made but more needs to be done. The Philippines ranks among the top five countries with the highest TB cases, according to the World Health Organization. Other countries on the list include India, Indonesia, China, and Pakistan. DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire highlighted that TB-related deaths have increased significantly over the past years, particularly affecting younger people aged 15 to 34. Herbosa stated that one of the top priorities for the DOH is to reduce TB deaths to zero by 2028. To achieve this goal, better detection methods, effective treatments, and better patient monitoring are necessary. He also emphasized the importance of new facilities like the Integrated Delivery of TB Services (IDOTS) Center in improving health equity and access to care. TB primarily affects the lungs and spreads through the air from infected individuals. Common symptoms include a prolonged cough, chest pain, fatigue, fever, and weight loss.