Ignorance the history of tuberculosis — the way to unjustified mistakes

Objective — to draw the attention of the medicine leaders, especially phthisiology to the problem of tuberculosis (TB) through knowledge of the historical past and to warn against mistakes in the future. Materials and methods. It is based on literary reports, data from official statistical reports, as well as own observations and research.Results and discussion. The article presents the most important data on TB in the historical aspect both on a global scale and in Ukraine. Statistical data on morbidity, mortality from TB, the effectiveness of treatment in the context of decades are analyzed. Attention is drawn to unreasonably erroneous opinions that all issues about tuberculosis have already been resolved and about its elimination as a widespread disease. In 1995, Ukraine was hit by an epidemic of TB, which was stopped thanks to international aid. Despite some progress in tackling tuberculosis in Ukraine in recent years, new strategic mistakes have emerged in the fight against the disease in the reorganization of the TB service. Ukraine needs to take into account the world’s best practices, but at the same time do not forget about our current realities in the fight against this prehistoric disease.Conclusions. The experience of world and domestic phthisiology allows specialists to better understand the problem of tuberculosis as a disease with its polymorphic pathomorphosis and failures in the fight against it. Because TB doctors who do not know the history of the development of their profession are limited, short-sighted and prone to mistakes. Today's strategic miscalculations, the hasty closure of TB facilities, a significant reduction in the number of beds and the number of TB doctors, can lead to further irreparable negative consequences, and in particular, during the COVID-19 pandemic