From Vicious to Virtuous: A Recent History of Global Tuberculosis Diagnostics

Tuberculosis is a major global health problem that is propagated by undiagnosed and mistreated cases. Significant progress has been made over the past decade by improving the technology for diagnosing TB. At the outset this progress arose from a simple linear model of technology development that evolved with time into an effort to transform a vicious cycle of neglect and inaction into a virtuous cycle of funding and progress by simultaneously intervening at multiple scientific, technical and political levels. Ultimately, however, improving TB control requires understanding the full complexities of incorporating new technology into evolved health systems.

Speaker: Dr. Peter Small, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation