World Tuberculosis Day 2022: aligning COVID-19 and tuberculosis innovations to save lives and to end tuberculosis

Summary: Global investments have reduced TB incidence and mortality rates in recent years, but the COVID-19 pandemic has posed challenges for TB control due to disruptions in healthcare services. A rapid review identified unprepared health system leadership, coexisting health priorities, lack of healthcare workforce support, and weak connections to primary health centers as key challenges to be addressed. Recommendations include ensuring sustainable national health budgets, building networks of community stakeholders, supporting healthcare workforce training, and utilizing digital health interventions for TB care. National health systems need to focus on patient-centered TB care, ethical community interventions, operational research, and integration of eHealth applications to achieve the goals of the End TB Strategy.

Summary: The COVID-19 pandemic has had unprecedented negative effects on global health and economies, drawing attention and resources away from other public health services. Identifying parallels, lessons, and resources from existing public health programs can help minimize these effects. There are synergies between COVID-19 and TB in terms of transmission and public health response, which should be prospectively studied for optimal interventions.