Priority-setting in TB programme planning: guiding an equitable and effective response.

Despite being preventable and curable, TB remains a major infectious killer. Effective control requires prevention, early diagnosis, proper treatment, and the ability to address socio-economic risk factors. With limited resources, countries must prioritise interventions amid evolving epidemiology, technologies, and health system demands. To support this, the WHO's policy brief, 'Priority-setting in tuberculosis programme planning', outlines structured and participatory decision-making approaches. It frames priority-setting as an ongoing governance function, not a one-time response to scarcity, helping align resources with population needs, promote equity, and strengthen integration of TB services within primary health care and universal health coverage.