The Department of Health (DoH) and the World Health Organization (WHO) are intensifying efforts to eliminate tuberculosis (TB) in the Philippines, aiming to screen 12 million Filipinos nationwide by 2026.

In a Wednesday night news release, the DoH said the initiative falls under the newly approved Philippine Strategic TB Elimination Plan Phase 2 (2025–2030).

Developed in line with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to strengthen the fight against TB — from prevention to treatment — the plan seeks to expand the reach and efficiency of TB services across the country.

The DoH’s proposed 2026 budget under the National Expenditure Program allocates P4.2 billion for TB programs, nearly double the P2.6 billion earmarked in 2025.

Technology employed

Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa said the country is leveraging technology and innovation to accelerate TB detection and treatment. “Ultra-portable AI-powered chest X-rays and WHO-recommended Nucleic Acid Amplification Tests are being deployed to quickly screen and diagnose TB cases,” he said.

Herbosa also highlighted an all-oral regimen for drug-resistant TB, which reduces treatment time from two years to just six months.

The DoH reported a more than 50% increase in enrollment for Tuberculosis Preventive Treatment (TPT) in 2024, driven by shorter regimens and expanded contact investigation. The program now covers contacts of drug-resistant TB cases under advanced programmatic implementation.