TB in Pakistan: A growing concern amidst lack of indigenous data


IV Report

KARACHI: Pakistan observed World TB Day on March 24, amidst growing concerns over the country's alarming tuberculosis burden. Despite being the fifth-highest TB-burden country globally, Pakistan lacks indigenous data to inform policy decisions and track progress.

According to experts, locally prepared TB data is crucial for understanding the disease's epidemiology, trends, and burden. This data enables policymakers and healthcare professionals to make informed decisions about TB control strategies, resource allocation, and programme implementation.

This scribe approached the Sindh health media coordinator for a yearly update and district-wise data on TB prevalence rates in Sindh, but did not receive any information.

The Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) sounded the alarm on the nation's TB burden, citing the World Health Organisation's (WHO) TB report for 2024. To combat the growing TB crisis, the PMA emphasised the need for:

- Prioritised Research: Focusing on understanding TB's epidemiology, trends, and burden in Pakistan

- Strengthening the National TB Programme (NTP): Enhancing the programme's capacity to combat TB effectively

- Increased Funding: Allocating more resources for innovative diagnostic tools, treatment regimens, and preventive strategies tailored to Pakistan's population

Meanwhile, Dow University of Health Sciences (DUHS) organised a walk-cum-awareness session at its Ojha Campus, highlighting Pakistan's fifth position among high-TB-burden countries. Professor Dr Iftikhar Ahmed, Director of the Dow-Ojha Institute of Chest Diseases, shared that TB was declared a national emergency in Pakistan in 2001.

The doctor said that 48,500 annual deaths with TB disease occur in Pakistan now.

The event emphasised the importance of awareness, early diagnosis, and treatment in combating TB. Experts explained that a B-positive pulmonary patient can transmit TB to 10-15 people annually.

Photos courtesy: DUHS

With an uninterrupted 23-year career in daily journalism (1991-2013), the author/editor of this blog currently serves as Editor of Social Track, a weekly newspaper focused on social sectors, based in Karachi. Holding a master's degree in Mass Communications from the University of Karachi (1990), his professional experience includes roles as senior reporter at Daily Dawn, Karachi (May 2001-August 2013) and Chief Reporter at The News International, Karachi (April 1991-May 2001). He has a strong background in development journalism, he has an extensive portfolio of news stories, analytical reports and features covering a wide range of sectors. He has had the privilege of covering numerous high-profile figures, including Pakistani presidents, prime ministers, army chiefs, foreign dignitaries, and VVIPs and attending conferences and workshops abroad. He began his journalism career in the early 1980s. Throughout his career, he has received several national awards from government and private organisations. He has contributed to various radio and TV/channel broadcasts and has also served as a trainer at workshops in Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad, focused on training journalists.

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