On World TB Day, the Regional Revolving Funds encourage Member States to plan their demand and invest in treatment, prevention, and diagnostic tools.
Washington, D.C., 21 March 2025. - The Regional Revolving Funds call on Member States and participants to prioritize access to TB medicines, which is especially important in the context of World TB Day on March 24. Progress in global elimination may suffer from a lack of access and availability without adequate investment.
To accelerate the response to TB, PAHO recommends the use of TB preventive treatment. The Regional Revolving Funds make available to Member States:
- IGRA tests and new skin tests are available for diagnosing TB infection. These tests are accurate and can provide results quickly, which facilitates the initiation of preventive TB treatment (PTT).
- Shortened fixed-dose combination regimens for TB preventive treatment, such as the combination of rifapentine/isoniazid
- Rifapentine and dispersible isoniazid for preventive treatment in younger children.
The WHO recommends all-oral shortened regimens, such as the BPaLM regimen, which combines the drugs bedaquiline, pretomanid, linezolid, and moxifloxacin, for the treatment of multidrug-resistant TB (MDR/XDR-TB).
Portable digital X-ray equipment and rapid molecular tests are essential to improve early detection among the most vulnerable populations and in the most affected areas. All treatments, drugs, and equipment are available through the PAHO Strategic Fund.
The BCG vaccine and tuberculin tests are also available through the PAHO Revolving Fund for Access to Vaccines.
Early diagnosis is crucial for effective treatment and for preventing the spread of the disease. Pooled procurement allows countries to acquire these technologies at better conditions and prices through PAHO's Regional Revolving Funds.
To learn more about this disease and the World TB Day campaign, click here.
