Policy brief on TB-associated disability

The World Health Organization released the first policy brief on TB-associated disability, presenting the current perspectives on the issue and approaches to mitigating the impact of these disabilities on health-related quality of life.

Overview

People affected by TB often develop impairments and disabilities associated with the disease or its treatment. This is further aggravated by the stigma and discrimination associated with a diagnosis of TB, and the barriers that people affected by TB, who often belong to marginalized segments of society, frequently face accessing health services. There is now compelling evidence that the TB disease and its treatment negatively affect the quality of life and life expectancy even after successful treatment.

The World Health Organization (WHO) Global Tuberculosis Programme has produced the first policy brief on TB-associated disability, building on the increasing evidence in recent years on the unaddressed needs of people with TB who experience impairments and disability during TB treatment, and which may persist after completing treatment.

The policy brief presents the current perspectives on TB-associated disability and approaches to mitigating the impact of these disabilities on health-related quality of life during TB treatment as well as beyond the completion of treatment. It aims to increase awareness, and to catalyze policy responses at national level, as part of integrated patient-centred care and prevention, a key pillar of the WHO’s End TB Strategy.

Access the policy brief here.

For more TB news, check out the latest edition of the TB Online Weekly Newsletter (#34, 7 November 2023) with the latest TB advocacy and research updates.