Concrete action now: UN High-Level Meeting on Tuberculosis

Antimicrobial resistance now poses a serious threat to global public health and economic stability.6 An estimated one third of all deaths associated with antimicrobial resistance are now caused by multidrug-resistant (MDR) tuberculosis.7 Drug-resistant strains of M tuberculosis continue to emerge and spread due to inadequacies in national tuberculosis programmes. Without major progress in global tuberculosis control efforts and increased investments over the coming years, the 2030 targets will not be met for more than 160 years.8 For decades, the global response has suffered due to a paucity of political engagement and investment.10 However, the collaborative action of WHO, the Stop TB Partnership, civil society groups, and parliamentarians—engaged in advocacy through networks such as the Global TB Caucus and TB Europe Coalition—is starting to pay off.11 After recognition at both the G7 and G20 summits last year, the first ministerial meeting on tuberculosis was hosted by WHO and the Russian Federation in Moscow (Nov 16–17, 2017). Civil society groups in countries with high and low burdens of tuberculosis will continue to amplify the public demand for action, while researchers, product development partnerships, and the pharmaceutical industry should show their ability and eagerness to make progress on the science that will revolutionise the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of this disease.