79th WHA Individual Statements
Item 12.3. The number of people dying from TB is finally declining, but with more than a million deaths worldwide each year, there remains a substantial need for palliative care for individuals with TB. A recent randomized controlled trial of nurse-led palliative care in Uganda significantly improved quality of life, reduced symptom burden, and—crucially—improved treatment adherence for people living with TB. The 2025 study highlighted that nurse-led, home-based palliative care is a cost-effective model, including for those with advanced multidrug-resistant TB, while providing essential symptom management and psychosocial support. We urge the inclusion of palliative care in the Global TB Program’s End TB Strategy.