On 13 May, the APPG on Global Tuberculosis hosted a parliamentary briefing on the growing tuberculosis (TB) crisis in the UK, chaired by Sojan Joseph MP.
The event brought together parliamentarians, public health experts and advocates to discuss rising TB rates across the country and the action needed to address them. Dr Lauren Ahyow from UKHSA provided an overview of the latest epidemiological trends and highlighted the populations most affected by TB. Dr Jess Potter, Chair of UK Academics and Professionals to End TB, spoke about barriers to diagnosis and care, the wider social determinants of TB, and the need for renewed political attention. Amy McConville shared her lived experience of TB and post-TB lung disease, highlighting the long-term impacts of the disease and the challenges faced by those affected.
The discussion reinforced that TB remains a significant public health challenge in the UK, disproportionately affecting vulnerable communities and highlighted the importance of sustained political leadership to drive progress towards TB elimination. From the discussion, parliamentarians identified the need for a set of recommendations to Ministers to curb the rising incidence of TB, which the APPG will facilitate through a formal Inquiry.