The appeal coincided with World TB Day 2026 on March 24, when the agency unveiled new guidelines promoting simpler, faster diagnostic tools that can be deployed closer to patients rather than relying solely on centralized laboratories.
According to the WHO, these newer tests are portable, battery-powered, and capable of delivering results in under an hour. They are also significantly more affordable—costing less than half of many existing molecular tests—making them more accessible for low- and middle-income countries.
“These new tools could be truly transformative for tuberculosis, by bringing fast, accurate diagnosis closer to people, saving lives, curbing transmission and reducing costs,” said Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. He urged governments worldwide to scale up access to such innovations to ensure timely diagnosis and treatment for all patients.
Tuberculosis, a bacterial infection that primarily affects the lungs, remains a major global health threat despite being preventable and treatable. The WHO estimates that the disease kills more than 3,300 people each day, while over 29,000 individuals fall ill daily. Although global interventions have saved approximately 83 million lives since 2000, progress is now at risk due to declining health funding.
Beyond the new rapid tests, the WHO is also recommending alternative sample collection methods, including tongue swabs. This approach could be particularly useful for patients who are unable to produce sputum, the mucus traditionally used for TB diagnosis, thereby improving access for vulnerable groups.
The agency further endorsed a “sputum pooling” strategy, where samples from multiple individuals are tested together. This method can improve efficiency and reduce costs, especially in resource-limited settings, while still enabling detection of TB and drug-resistant forms such as rifampicin-resistant TB.
Importantly, the new diagnostic tools may have broader applications. The WHO noted they could also be adapted for testing other diseases, including HIV, Mpox, and Human papillomavirus, supporting more integrated, patient-centered healthcare services.
Despite these advances, the WHO cautioned that diagnostics alone will not eliminate tuberculosis. The agency highlighted a persistent global funding shortfall of about $5 billion annually for TB research, which continues to slow the development of new tools, treatments, and vaccines.
“Investing in TB is a strategic political and economic choice, generating up to $43 in returns for every dollar spent,” said Tereza Kasaeva, emphasizing the need for stronger political commitment and rapid implementation of recommended measures.
The WHO concluded that expanding access to faster, affordable testing—alongside sustained investment and policy support—will be critical to closing diagnosis gaps, reducing transmission, and ultimately saving millions of lives.