Step Up for TB 2020, a report by Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) and the Stop TB Partnership, surveyed 37 countries and found that many use outdated and ineffective practices, policies, and tools to diagnose and treat TB.
Step Up for TB 2020 summarises the findings of the 4th survey of national TB policies in the Step Up for TB series (previously known as Out of Step). This edition presents data on 37 countries, assessing the extent to which national policies align with international best practices based on World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines and the latest scientific research. The survey examined policies related to diagnosis, treatment, prevention, and medicines procurement.
The results show that not enough countries are stepping up to update their national policies following the issuance of new WHO guidelines. Innovative products take years to reach the people who need them, reducing their impact. As a result, achievable global goals to reduce unnecessary sickness and death, and halt the spread of TB, remain unmet.