Tuberculosis in Pakistan: A Persistent Public Health Challenge
Pakistan ranks among the top five countries with a high burden of TB, with over 420,000 new cases reported annually. The disease is particularly prevalent in urban areas and among marginalized populations. Tuberculosis (TB) remains a significant public health concern in Pakistan, which ranks among the top five countries globally with the highest burden of the disease. The World Health Organization estimates that in 2022, Pakistan accounted for approximately 5.7% of global TB cases, translating to more than 600,000 estimated cases annually. Pakistan faces a significant challenge with multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB), ranking fourth globally in prevalence. Contributing factors include delays in diagnosis, unsupervised or inappropriate drug regimens, poor follow-up, and lack of social support programs for high-risk populations.
