TBPPM Highlights from World Conference on TB and Lung Health 2025

This year’s International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (The Union) conference was buzzing with new tools information, funding cuts discussions, and TB reflections from authors. In the days leading up to the event, the TBPPM LN promoted certain sessions on its various social media channels, including the website.

• Innovate, Integrate, Impact: A symposium on New Tools to END TB
• PPM Sessions at Union Conference
• The Art of Storytelling in TB at the Union Conference 2025
• Community pharmacists as enablers of equitable TB care and referral in India
• Trust, tools and TB: Community-led solutions for local challenges
• Critical path for introducing and scaling new diagnostics in high-burden countries

PPM

PPM Posters and Abstracts provided insights in various models on engaging private providers, health facilities and other providers not usually linked to NTP programs. Barriers and opportunities were outlined and innovative platforms, mechanisms were shared.

TBPPM India

Community health providers are a crucial link in community health systems! With all the new diagnostics coming down the pipeline, the work of frontline primary care and community health workers is now an even more essential part of a primary TB care system.

Engaging sessions and many inspiring words from those that know what action on the ground looks like! Ramya Ananthakrishnan, Resource Group for Education and Advocacy for Community Health (REACH), Mohan HL, KHPT, Miranda Brouwer, IIH, Aparna Chaudhary, Wadhwani Foundation. Great chairing by Prachi Shukla and Dr. Vijayashree Yellappa - and wonderful inputs by the many speakers.

Core Working Group on Public–Private Mix (PPM)

The Core Working Group on PPM met to discuss funding constraints, resource mobilization, and the road ahead for 2026, underscoring the importance of sustaining partnerships despite shrinking fiscal space. Overall, in the preparation of new diagnostics and vaccines, it is clear that TB professionals need to start engaging with frontline providers to understand how roll-out of services can be best organized so that all people in need have access to TB tests where they seek care. 

Storytelling Workshop

Our Story telling workshop with authors Handaa Enkh-Amgalan and Maria Smilios (cochaired with PIH, Lindsay Palazuelos) showed participants how to explore real-life experiences to shape powerful narratives, and how storytelling can help us connect, lead, and communicate with more impact. In an engaging workshop participants tried the craft, sharpened their voices, and worked on stories. In this article in PLOS, The “Why, why, why” of tuberculosis – Why storytelling is integral to the fight against TB, the author highlights these sessions at the Union conference.

Funding Cuts

The conference also saw several sessions highlighting the on the ground impact of stop work orders and shrinking fiscal space. Mathematical modelling of the impact, community voices, and country mitigation plans were shared. The massive impact felt on the ground by programs and communities is real! Lives are lost, programs stopped, healthcare workers fired… the ripple effects reflect the grave human cost of disrupted services.

Frontline PPM Heroes
And as always – we had the chance to connect with so many frontline PPM heroes! We missed many, but great to hug and chat with those that were in Copenhagen.

Thank you to The Union

A heartfelt thank you to everyone at The Union who worked tirelessly behind the scenes to make this gathering possible—from program planners and session organizers to volunteers and support staff. Your dedication in bringing the TB community together, creating space for dialogue, learning, and solidarity, strengthens our collective resolve to end TB for good.