Global health, with a focus on Tuberculosis, One Health, and Anti-Microbial Resistance, came under the spotlight with the establishment of the Health Working Group (HWG) under the G20 Presidency of Germany.

Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the leading causes of death among infectious diseases, claiming more than 4,100 lives a day. It remains the leading killer of people with HIV and a major contributor to antimicrobial resistance-related deaths. Half of the global burden of TB is in G20 countries. An estimated 10.56 million people developing TB every year in the world, about half (5.33 million) are from G20 countries. Of these estimated numbers of people with TB, in 2021 only 60% of the people were diagnosed and placed on treatment. Of the missing 4 million people with TB in the world, half of them were from G20 countries.

G20 members have consistently committed to addressing tuberculosis, particularly multidrug-resistant TB (MDR TB), as part of the global AMR response, in addition to several other efforts at the international level. However, TB remains to be severely underfunded and neglected.

Indonesia, the current G20 President, organized a side event during the Health Working Group meeting and developed a document named Call to Action on Financing for TB Response. This document was published along with the G20 Health Ministers Chair Summary.

The next three G20 presidencies will be held by high TB-burden countries namely, India (2023), Brazil (2024) and South Africa (2025). These are great opportunities for the global TB community to position TB high on the political agenda of world leaders.