Assessment of TB patient cost - what about the mitigation strategy?

The essential components of the DOTS strategy begin with a political commitment. The strategy was based on the innovative approaches of the collaborative programme of the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, and was considered one of the most cost-effective public health interventions. The fight against TB has a substantial human and economic return, but it requires adequate and continuous funding. At the UN High-Level Meeting on TB, the global target required for TB prevention, diagnostic and treatment services for 137 low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) was at least US$13 billion annually, but less than half of this target has been met. Several studies have been conducted to better estimate the cost of TB services in different settings.These focused on costs of providing services, and were estimated from a health provider’s perspective. Although these studies are helpful for investment decisions, they do not take into account out-of-pocket expenses for households, which remains high, particularly in resource-limited settings, and poses a considerable barrier to access to health services and adherence to treatment.