The future of the fight against tuberculosis in the world

In spite of extraordinary improvement of the methods of prophylaxis, casefinding and treatment, tuberculosis situation throughout the world is further on very serious. In developing countries comprising a high proportion of the world population scarce or only very slow progress may be noted. 4 to 5 millions of highly infectious new cases of tuberculosis and in all 10 millions of new cases of tuberculosis are estimated every year in the world. A great part of the population concerned is living under conditions of poverty, malnutrition, and disease. In these countries tuberculosis control programmes may be actually feasible from medical and technological points of view but they are without any prospects for success by epidemiological, social, and economic reasons. In developing countries the development of a comprehensive primary health care system according to the recommendations of the Alma-Ata Conference has priority in public health policies. The control of tuberculosis is adequate to develop within this system.