Uzbekistan reduced tuberculosis deaths by at least 75% in 2025 compared with 2015, according to the WHO Global tuberculosis report 2026, published on 13 November. Despite the decline, the country remains on the list of states with a high burden of drug-resistant TB. The report provides updated global data on TB incidence, treatment coverage and resistance to key medicines, including rifampicin.
Key Takeaways: Uzbekistan cut TB mortality by at least 75% from 2015 levels, but it still faces a high drug-resistant TB burden. The WHO’s updated 30-country high-burden list for 2026–2030 includes Central Asian countries, Ukraine and Russia; Turkmenistan appears for the first time, while Belarus and Moldova were removed. Globally, about 10.6 million people fell ill with TB in 2025 and 1.13 million died.
The report captures both progress and persistent gaps in the global TB response. Worldwide TB mortality has fallen 35% since 2015, yet the disease remains the leading cause of death from a single infectious agent. Eastern Europe and Central Asia have the world’s highest share of rifampicin-resistant cases. In some countries in the region, resistance is detected in more than half of patients previously treated for TB. This underscores the need for stronger laboratory capacity, early diagnosis and wider access to effective treatment.
According to the report, Central Asian countries, Ukraine and Russia tested at least 80% of confirmed TB patients for rifampicin resistance. However, in the WHO European Region, 76% of patients with drug-resistant TB still receive lengthy treatment lasting 18–20 months instead of the recommended six-month regimens. Such prolonged treatment raises costs for health systems and makes it harder for patients to adhere to therapy.
WHO estimates that 2.2 million people who fell ill in 2025 were either undiagnosed or unreported. Only 59% of newly diagnosed patients received the rapid test recommended by the agency. Among 370,000 people with rifampicin resistance, only 42% received treatment. These figures highlight persistent inequities in access to diagnosis and care, particularly where health services are under strain.
For Uzbekistan, the next steps include strengthening drug-resistant TB control, expanding laboratory capacity and scaling up modern shorter treatment regimens. Early detection is also a priority: from 2028, the country plans to launch screening for four cancers — stomach, colon, prostate and lung — across all regions. The program is expected to receive 700 billion soum annually. WHO’s updated 2026–2030 list signals that regional monitoring and international cooperation will remain central to the response.
Source: podrobno.uz