TB Technical Sub – Committee – CCM Holds First Meeting of 2025

Hanoi, February 5, 2025 – The Tuberculosis (TB) Technical Sub- committee under the Country Coordinating Mechanism (CCM) of the Global Fund convened its first meeting of the year at The One UN Building in Hanoi. The meeting brought together representatives from the World Health Organization (WHO), the National Lung Hospital, the Ho Chi Minh City Public Health Association, international organizations operating in Vietnam, and representatives of people affected by TB.

The meeting focused on reviewing the key activities of the TB Technical Working Group in 2024 and discussing the priorities and tasks to be implemented in the first quarter of 2025.

Mr. Vu Quang Hieu (WHO), Chair of the TB Technical Working Group, shared that the U.S. Government is temporarily pausing several international aid programs for reassessment. This may impact the resources available for Vietnam’s National TB Program. The Global Fund also expressed concern over delays in the selection of Sub-Recipients (SRs) and warned of potential funding cuts starting in 2025 and in subsequent years.

One of the top priorities highlighted was the use of molecular diagnostics for TB detection. Despite ongoing challenges, the National TB Program (NTP) promptly updated technical guidelines and expanded testing indications, helping to maintain the detection of 106,000 TB cases in 2024, matching the highest level recorded in 2023.

Participants proposed various solutions to maximize resource mobilization for TB prevention and control, including strengthening the network of community health collaborators, seeking additional funding sources, and accelerating the SR selection process. In addition, they emphasized the need to evaluate the effectiveness of scaling up molecular diagnostics to develop an efficient TB screening model.

The TB Technical Working Group called on member organizations to continue their collaboration, including completing the SR selection process by February 21, 2025; enhancing the TB surveillance information system to enable more accurate epidemiological assessments; and supporting the development of a new National TB Control Strategy.

The first meeting of the TB Technical Working Group in 2025 took place amid significant challenges related to funding and international aid. However, it also demonstrated the strong commitment of all stakeholders to sustaining and improving TB control efforts in Vietnam. The agreed-upon priorities: from expanding molecular diagnostics and expediting SR selection to developing a new strategic plan will serve as a critical foundation for ensuring the program’s sustainability in the coming years. The Technical -Subcommittee reaffirmed its commitment to close collaboration with both domestic and international partners to mobilize resources, innovate approaches, and enhance the effectiveness of TB control for the benefit of public health.

CCM Secretariat