US$ 650m needed for global MDR-TB & XDR-TB response in 2007

25 February 2007
Departmental update
South Africa
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Dr Paul Nunn speaking at the 14th CROI event

US$ 650 million is needed annually to diagnose and treat over 1.5 million patients with drug-resistant TB by 2015. This is in line with TB universal access aims for 2010 and the 2015 Stop TB Partnership targets.

The figure was presented to delegates at the opening session of the 14th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections by Dr Paul Nunn of the WHO Stop TB Department. It includes US$ 42 million for global and regional coordination and planning, and technical support. WHO also estimates that more than US$ 600 million is needed for countries to create or expand programmes that manage drug-resistant TB. Just under US$ 200 million of this amount is already budgeted for by countries using domestic or international funds, leaving a gap of about US$ 400 million.

The detailed plan is now circulating among WHO's major partners for consultation.