Priority setting in tuberculosis programme planning: policy brief

Tuberculosis remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality globally, with progress towards elimination increasingly constrained by funding gaps, health system disruptions and recent reductions in international development assistance. This policy brief examines approaches to priority setting in tuberculosis programme planning, aiming to support countries in making evidence-informed decisions to optimize resource allocation and sustain progress towards global targets.

Structured in three sections, the document outlines principles, processes and practical considerations for prioritizing interventions within national tuberculosis programmes, as a complement to WHO guidance on strategic planning. It emphasizes data-driven, people-centred and context-specific approaches aligned with the End TB Strategy, and introduces structured frameworks such as the PRIORITI approach to support transparent and inclusive decision-making grounded in ethical and procedural principles. The brief also analyses challenges including financing constraints, data limitations and institutional barriers, and presents mitigation strategies to address reduced funding, including resource mobilization, efficiency gains and targeted prioritization under severe constraints. It further identifies priority actions to maintain essential services, strengthen integration within primary health care and promote equity and quality of care, supporting policy-makers and programme managers in adaptive and resilient programme planning.