Health experts are emphasizing the need for increased innovation in the diagnosis and treatment of tuberculosis to support efforts to eliminate the disease by 2035. The World Health Organization's recent data indicates that TB claimed the lives of 1.3 million individuals worldwide in 2022, making it the second leading cause of death after COVID-19 and significantly surpassing HIV/AIDS mortalities. With over 10 million new TB cases reported annually, the WHO has set ambitious targets to reduce TB-related deaths by 95% and decrease the disease incidence by 90% compared to 2015 levels.

China, as the country with the third-highest number of TB cases globally, has a critical role to play in the fight against TB. The WHO representative in China, Martin Taylor, highlighted the importance of translating commitments into tangible actions through investments and advancements in TB care, research, and reducing financial burdens for patients to expedite progress in ending the disease. Despite commendable efforts in China to control TB, experts stress the necessity for further financial investments, enhanced collaboration, and innovative approaches to propel advancements.

Professor Peng Liyuan, WHO's goodwill ambassador for tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS, has underscored the significance of coordinated actions to combat TB during her recent visit to Changsha. She emphasized the importance of community engagement and education in TB prevention and control, encouraging individuals to contribute towards eradicating the disease. Additionally, she advocated for promoting awareness and understanding of TB prevention and treatment among residents, especially youth, to address the challenges posed by the disease effectively.

Innovation has been identified as a crucial element in addressing drug-resistant TB and improving accessibility to treatment in China. Zhao Yanlin, director of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention's Center for Tuberculosis Control and Prevention, stressed the importance of innovative solutions to tackle challenges such as extrapulmonary TB and drug resistance. Efforts are ongoing to introduce proactive detection tools and preventive treatments, with a focus on early interventions to reduce TB incidence rates and enhance patient management.

Researchers and health officials in China are actively exploring innovative treatment regimens and therapies to combat TB effectively. Zhang Wenhong, director of the National Center for Infectious Diseases, highlighted ongoing studies on short-course treatment regimens that aim to shorten the treatment duration for multidrug-resistant TB and general TB cases. These efforts, coupled with a modernized and localized treatment approach, are intended to enhance patient compliance and accelerate progress towards the goal of ending TB by 2035.