16 July 2015 - Geneva, Switzerland - The Stop TB Partnership is calling on the world to renew commitments to funding the global fight against tuberculosis as the UN Financing for Development Conference in Addis Ababa concludes, where leaders discussed financing for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
A new TB financing fact sheet released by the Partnership, 'Racing to the End TB Finish Line', shows that low-income high-burden TB countries (HBCs) need increased international support, while many lower-middle income HBCs are failing to step up with the needed domestic investments. In the eight low-income HBCs, domestic funding represents less than 7% of National TB budget needs, and in the nine lower-middle income HBCs, domestic funding represents less than 26% of National TB budget needs.
"The Financing for Development Conference was a key moment for the global community to confirm its commitment to financing global health" said Dr. Lucica Ditiu, Executive Secretary for the Stop TB Partnership. "Tuberculosis kills 4000 people every day and if we want to end TB, we must ensure that domestic investments step up to address TB challenges".
"While the BRICS countries have benefited from strong economic growth and have prioritized domestic investments in TB, other countries with major TB burdens are still heavily dependent on external financing for their TB programs. Tuberculosis has devastated the economies of many of these countries, where the treatment of one person with drug-resistant TB can cost over $10,000 and primary health care systems struggle to cope with the TB epidemic."
"It's the responsibility of all of us to ensure the world has the needed resources to meet the goal to end TB by 2035. It is alarming that domestic investments are low where they are needed the most. In addition, new figures released by the IHME show a worrying 9.2% decrease in international support for TB at a time when the world has agreed to the most ambitious goals against TB in history."
Additional details on the Financing for Development Conference can be found here.
Download the new Stop TB Partnership Fact Sheet on TB Financing here.