- In April 2024, the Indian Ministry of Health and Family Welfare partnered with the Global Drug Facility (GDF) to expand access to the BPaL (bedaquiline, pretomanid, and linezolid) regimen nationwide. This initiative is part of India’s National Strategic Plan for TB Elimination, aiming to reduce treatment duration and improve outcomes for XDR-TB patients. The collaboration reflects India’s growing commitment to deploying shorter, all-oral treatment regimens supported by global health agencies
- In March 2024, South Africa’s National Department of Health began the rollout of digital adherence technologies (DATs) for XDR-TB patients across rural provinces, including Limpopo and Eastern Cape. These tools—such as 99DOTS and electronic pillboxes—help track treatment adherence in real time and support community health workers. The initiative is backed by funding from USAID and the Stop TB Partnership, strengthening South Africa’s position as a regional leader in innovative TB care delivery
- In February 2024, the Philippines Department of Health launched a mobile-based TB diagnostic and treatment support system as part of its Enhanced Comprehensive TB Elimination Plan. Supported by WHO and the Global Fund, this system integrates AI-powered symptom checkers and remote treatment monitoring, aiming to improve early XDR-TB detection and patient compliance across underserved areas. The platform is being piloted in Mindanao and is expected to scale nationally by 2026
- In January 2024, the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) announced a partnership with Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) to conduct a multi-site trial assessing the safety and effectiveness of novel oral regimens, including bedaquiline and delamanid combinations, in patients with XDR-TB. This trial, conducted across Nairobi and Kisumu counties, aims to gather local evidence for future national treatment policy revisions and improve survival rates among high-risk population
- In December 2023, Indonesia’s Ministry of Health, in collaboration with USAID and Johnson & Johnson, initiated a nationwide scale-up of shorter XDR-TB treatment courses using novel drugs such as bedaquiline. The initiative focuses on integrating treatment into community-based programs and enhancing lab capacity for rapid resistance testing. This development supports Indonesia’s goal of halving TB-related mortality by 2030 in alignment with WHO’s End TB Strategy
