SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
Institutions: Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
The World Health Organization has released updated Target Product Profiles (TPPs) for tuberculosis (TB) screening tests, setting new benchmarks for the development of more accurate, affordable, and accessible tools. First published in 2014, the TPPs guide innovation in detection tools. With recent advances - such as portable digital X-ray devices and AI-powered computer-aided detection software - screening technology has improved, yet uptake remains limited in reaching underserved populations.
The 2025 TPPs are technology-agnostic and define three different types of screening tools suited to various contexts. They reflect in-depth consultations with global experts and modelling on performance and cost. Dr Tereza Kasaeva, WHO Director for HIV, TB, Hepatitis, and STIs, emphasized that better and more accessible tools are essential for closing the detection gap and reducing TB incidence and mortality.
Relevant question for policy stakeholders: How can India incentivise R&D and scale deployment of TB screening technologies aligned with WHOβs updated TPPs, ensuring affordable, AI-integrated, and accessible tools reach high-burden and remote areas?
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