Tuberculosis in Turkiye: Epidemiological insights and recommendations for progress

BACKGROUND: Tuberculosis (TB) remains a significant global public health challenge. We provide an overview of the current TB epidemiology in Turkey, highlighting key findings related to TB incidence, diagnostic challenges, and treatment outcomes. RESULTS: A gradual decline in TB incidence in Turkiye has been observed over recent years. In 2022, the TB incidence rate was 11.5 per 100,000, falling short of achieving WHO's target of a 50% reduction by 2025. The prevalence of multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) is rising, particularly among foreign-born populations, and delays in diagnosing extrapulmonary TB forms, such as TB meningitis and spondylodiscitis, continue to hinder effective treatment. CONCLUSION: We identify critical gaps in diagnostic tools, treatment adherence, and healthcare worker knowledge. We provide a set of comprehensive recommendations aimed at reducing TB incidence and improving treatment success, including the implementation of rapid molecular diagnostic tests, strengthening health policies for at-risk populations (such as migrants), improving healthcare worker education, and leveraging mobile health platforms to monitor treatment adherence.