WHO, DOH Target 12M Filipinos to be screened for Tuberculosis by 2026; Philippines aims to double budget for TB Services

The Department of Health (DOH), in partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO), is targeting to screen 12 million Filipinos for Tuberculosis by 2026. This initiative is part of the newly approved Philippine Strategic TB Elimination Plan Phase 2 (PhilSTEP2) 2025-2030, which aligns with President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.’s directive to intensify the fight against TB, encompassing both prevention and treatment.

To support this, the DOH National Expenditure Program for 2026 proposes a budget of ₱4.2 Billion for TB services, nearly double the ₱2.6 Billion allocated in 2025. Health workers are utilizing AI-powered portable X-ray units to facilitate early detection and treatment of TB, bringing these resources closer to communities, as seen in the Cordillera Administrative Region.

“In the Philippines, we are already using ultra-portable AI-powered chest X-rays and WHO-recommended Nucleic Acid Amplification Tests (NAAT) to quickly screen and diagnose TB cases," said Secretary of Health Teodoro Herbosa. "We are integrating the complete cascade of care in DOH-governed BUCAS centers and primary care facilities under LGUs.” The Philippines is also employing an innovative all-oral regimen for drug-resistant TB, reducing treatment from two years to six months with improved success rates.

Prevention efforts are enhanced through the roll-out of shorter Tuberculosis Preventive Treatment (TPT) regimens and contact investigations, resulting in a more than 50% increase in TPT enrollment in 2024. TPT has also expanded to cover contacts of drug-resistant TB cases. Furthermore, children with non-severe drug-susceptible TB are now offered a shortened treatment regimen, reducing the duration from six to four months.

The DOH is also expanding social and behavior change communication initiatives, including community-based health education campaigns like the TPTodo campaign, to promote the importance of TPT and early care-seeking behaviors. The DOH is leading a comprehensive national effort to end TB through the Philippine Acceleration Action Plan for Tuberculosis (PAAP-TB 2023–2035), a multisectoral framework for joint action among various sectors to eliminate TB by 2035.

“Tuberculosis is a global challenge, and progress in any country means bringing the world closer to ending the disease. We know what works, and we’re seeing some encouraging results here in the Philippines,” said Acting WHO Representative to the Philippines, Dr. Eunyoung Ko. “WHO remains steadfast in its support for DOH at the central and sub-national levels. Together, we are strengthening case-finding, getting more people on preventive medicines, and helping people who are infected stick to their treatment plan. Places like Guimaras—which is aiming to become the country’s first TB-free island—are showing what can be achieved.”

In 2024, an estimated 10.7 million TB cases occurred globally, with 6.8% of these cases in the Philippines, equivalent to 625 Filipinos per 100,000 population. TB remains a leading cause of death in the country, resulting in approximately 98 Filipino deaths each day, although this represents a 3% reduction from the previous year. The DOH and WHO reaffirm their commitment to multisectoral collaboration and the expansion of TB services to reduce transmission and improve treatment outcomes, aiming to end TB in the Philippines by 2030.