DOH seeks TB program funds as PH in top 3 infections worldwide
The Department of Health (DOH) is seeking P4.2 billion for its antituberculosis (TB) program next year, amid a new report by the World Health Organization (WHO) showing the Philippines ranks third among countries with the highest TB rates.
According to the WHO Global Tuberculosis report 2025 released on Wednesday, the country accounted for 6.8 percent of TB cases worldwide, after 25 percent in India and 10 percent in Indonesia.
The Philippines was followed by China (6.5 percent), Pakistan (6.3 percent), Nigeria (4.8 percent), the Democratic Republic of the Congo (3.9 percent) and Bangladesh (3.6 percent).
TB incidence
There were 10.7 million people worldwide who developed TB last year, of which the fatalities reached 1.23 million, according to the report.
In a statement also on Wednesday, the DOH said it has allocated P4.2 billion for its TB program in the agency’s proposed 2026 budget.
The department said it plans to screen 12 million Filipinos nationwide by next year in its efforts to reduce TB in the country.
