“During the first five years, I was beginning to lose hope. I was never declared cured by the doctor. I just continued taking the drugs.” This was the daily life of Mildred Fernando Pancho, a survivor of multi-drug resistant TB, until she won the battle against the disease one decade later.
Every day in the Philippines, around 70 people lose their lives to tuberculosis (TB) – a curable and preventable disease. Behind these numbers are families whose members see their lives disrupted for years, mothers afraid of infecting their children, breadwinners unable to work, and even children being forced to pull out of school. TB continues to perpetuate a cycle of suffering and poverty, reminding this 118-million-people country on a daily basis that despite advances in medical technology and international support, it remains a formidable public health challenge.
Alarming TB statistics
The Department of Health (DOH) has reported that there were nearly 200,000 TB cases in the country during the first half of 2025. In 2023, there were 739,000 confirmed cases and around 37,000 deaths. These figures exceed regional norms by over six times and represent 6.8% of the incidence of TB in the world. The World Health Organization (WHO) now ranks the Philippines among the top 10 nations with high burdens of TB, HIV co-infection, and multidrug-resistant TB.
Rising deaths
Between 2015 and 2022, TB-related deaths increased by 46%, highlighting the fierce battle the country has faced. Working-age adults are the worst hit:
- Men aged 15 and above are most affected by TB, accounting for 61% of cases
- Women in the same age group make up 32% of cases
- Children under 14 represent 7% of cases
Human and economic toll
TB is not only a health crisis but also a social and economic issue. About 42% of Filipino households affected by TB experience economic hardships, with nearly half living in poverty prior to diagnosis, despite the free services offered by the National TB Programme:
- The average cost of TB treatment is US$601
- Treating drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) is five times more expensive than treating drug-sensitive tuberculosis (DS-TB).
Households frequently rely on using all their savings, borrowing money, or selling assets to cover TB-related costs. A 2016-2017 survey found that 42.4% of TB-affected households spent over 20% of their yearly income on treatment, forcing many patients to abandon the required six-month regimen prematurely.
For the Philippine government, TB carries a minimum annual cost of US$145 million, which can predominantly be attributed to premature deaths and illnesses, amounting to over 500,000 disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) lost annually.
Reluctant to seek care
The 2016 National TB Prevalence Survey revealed troubling trends:
- Only 20% of people with TB symptoms sought medical help
- 40% reported self-medication, which is often inefficient
- Another 40% took no action at all
Stigma, lack of awareness, and limited access to healthcare continue to fuel the spread of the disease.
Innovation and national strategy
In an attempt to improve the situation, the Philippine government has embraced technology. Portable AI-supported X-ray systems and the rapid molecular test machine, Truenat, offer quick diagnostic results within an hour.
Mobile health clinics travel nationwide to reach underserved people and offer basic health check-ups, reducing the need for hospital visits and easing pressure on overstretched facilities. Simultaneously, the government is actively implementing its National Tuberculosis Control Program. Aligned with the WHO’s End TB Strategy, this targets a substantial reduction in TB-related deaths and cases by 2035, aiming for a 95% decrease in mortality and a 90% decline in incidence.
What’s next?
Despite broader U.S. foreign aid cuts in 2025, the Philippines secured a US$250 million aid package for health programs, with US$21 million being earmarked for TB programs. This financial injection mainly targets public health, specifically addressing TB, maternal health initiatives, and preparedness against emerging diseases.
Even so, the challenge is still immense. With 70 lives lost to TB every single day, the question is no longer whether the Philippines can afford to strengthen its response strategy, it is whether it can afford not to.
