Manila, Philippines – The Department of Health (DOH) is now targeting 12 million Filipinos in the country to undergo Tuberculosis (TB) screening before the end of 2026.
This is in line with the directive of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. under the Philippine Strategic TB Elimination Plan and the Philippine Acceleration Action Plan for Tuberculosis 2023-2025.
According to the DOH, a proposed budget of ₱4.2 billion has been allocated to improve TB services in 2026.
In fact, according to Health Secretary Ted Herbosa, the Philippines is already using ultra-portable AI-powered chest X-rays.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has also recommended the use of Nucleic Acid Amplification Tests (NAAT) in the Philippines to identify TB cases as fast as possible.
Furthermore, the duration of TB treatment has been reduced from the previous two years to only six months, while maintaining a high likelihood of cure.
“We are already using an innovative regimen for drug-resistant TB that cuts the treatment from 2 years to only 6 months with a higher treatment success rate,” said Health Secretary Ted Herbosa.
The DOH is also strengthening community-based campaigns to educate the public on how to prevent TB infection and how it can be treated.
Meanwhile, based on DOH data, around half a million Filipinos develop TB each year, which remains one of the leading causes of death.
The agency continues its National Active Case Finding (ACF) program and provides Tuberculosis Preventive Treatment (TPT), a type of medication taken to prevent TB infection to close contacts of confirmed TB patients, people living with HIV, and other high-risk groups.
The DOH reminds the public that TB treatment is free at health centers.