Tuberculosis

Strengthening TB programs through smarter, more resilient supply chain solutions

Tuberculosis (TB) remains one of the world’s deadliest infectious diseases. In 2024, an estimated 10.7 million people fell ill with TB and 1.23 million people died. Ending TB requires more than medical tools alone – it requires strong supply chains that keep diagnostics, imaging, medicines, consumables, and laboratory systems available where they are needed most.

World TB Day 2026

Explore PFSCM’s World TB Day resources highlighting how stronger TB diagnostics supply chains support earlier detection, drug-resistant TB diagnosis, and expanded screening access.

How strong supply chains enable TB diagnosis

PFSCM strengthens TB programs through integrated TB diagnostics supply chain management, combining coordinated sourcing, procurement oversight, quality assurance, and global logistics. Supporting drug-resistant TB (DR-TB) detection, near point-of-care testing platforms, and digital X-ray TB screening technologies, PFSCM helps ensure that TB diagnostics meet international standards while remaining accessible where they are needed most. Through end-to-end supply chain performance, PFSCM expands access to reliable quality-assured TB diagnostics while maximizing value for money and strengthening global TB supply chains.

Our impact in the fight against TB

Global TB burden and the need for strong diagnostics

TB remains one of the world’s deadliest infectious diseases, requiring stronger diagnostic capacity and more resilient supply systems. Detecting TB early – particularly drug-resistant TB (DR-TB) – depends on reliable access to molecular diagnostics, imaging technologies, and laboratory consumables. Effective TB diagnostics supply chain management ensures these tools are available across health systems, helping countries expand screening and strengthen case detection.

TB diagnostics and drug-resistant TB detection

Drug-resistant tuberculosis presents a growing challenge for national TB programs. Accurate detection requires access to DR-TB molecular diagnostics, sequencing technologies, and specialized laboratory infrastructure. PFSCM supports partners by sourcing quality-assured TB diagnostics, coordinating procurement, and ensuring reliable distribution of testing platforms and consumables needed for drug-resistant TB detection.

Supporting the global health community

In the past few years, PFSCM has played a significant role in supporting countries in strengthening their TB-related diagnostic services. PFSCM is committed to ensuring that quality-assured TB products and diagnostic services reach those in need. Our extensive international and regional supplier base and network of specialized 3PL partners enable us to procure and deliver several TB-related diagnostics, including near-patient multi-diagnostic molecular equipment that simultaneously detects both TB and rifampicin-resistance TB in less than two hours, allowing for same-day testing and results delivery. Expanding laboratory testing and surveillance capacity is essential to strengthening TB programs and addressing antimicrobial resistance. Reliable diagnostics allow health systems to detect TB earlier and ensure patients receive the correct treatment quickly. By coordinating procurement, delivery, and restocking of diagnostic equipment, reagents, and consumables, PFSCM helps ensure countries maintain the tools needed to diagnose, treat, and control TB.

Category management strategy

We develop portfolio or product strategies, create sourcing strategies, and manage supplier relationships.

Market intelligence

We analyze the market dynamics that affect the behavior and performance of various product categories. We continuously assess the fast-evolving global health market and use data to help our clients better understand the industry, identify opportunities, mitigate risks, and make more informed programmatic and investment decisions.

Clients’ needs alignment

We work closely with clients to align business strategies with sourcing priorities. We translate strategic goals into clear category targets and deliverables. By grouping products and services with similar supply and demand drivers, we help identify consolidation opportunities and create meaningful business value across their operations.

Risk mitigation

We help clients understand the characteristics of each product category and the external factors that influence them. By addressing regulatory, registration, importation, and handling requirements, we reduce and manage supply chain risks. Our guidance ensures supply meets demand and products move efficiently through the chain without delays.

Our services that help TB programs

PFSCM’s supply chain expertise ensures the availability, affordability, and quality of TB products, addressing accessibility challenges in LMICs.

PFSCM upholds the highest standards of quality assurance to ensure that the TB products delivered meet stringent international quality requirements, providing confidence to our clients and end-users. PFSCM only procures products that comply with defined quality requirements as prescribed in applicable QA policies, such as those prequalified by the World Health Organization, approved by stringent regulatory authorities (SRAs), and meet national regulatory requirements.

PFSCM has access to a large and diverse regional and international prequalified supplier base that reduces the risk of supply chain disruptions. We maintain strong supplier relationships to ensure the availability and affordability of essential TB products, and we help our clients gain fast, sustained access to new technology and products at affordable prices (market access).

PFSCM’s comprehensive procurement services streamline the process of acquiring TB products, enabling our clients to access a wide range of essential items efficiently. We help our clients to develop product catalogs to channel demand to standardized products to reduce costs and maverick spending and drive overall production and supply chain efficiencies.

PFSCM provides coordinated TB diagnostic logistics solutions that ensure testing equipment, consumables, and imaging technologies reach health facilities safely and on time. Through global freight coordination, customs support, and delivery planning, PFSCM helps partners maintain uninterrupted diagnostic services and strengthen global TB supply chains.

Strengthening TB-related diagnostic services

PFSCM is also increasing access to diagnostic imaging services by procuring, delivering and installing portable, mobile, fixed X-rays and CT scanners for several countries like Mozambique, Tanzania, and Pakistan. For large equipment orders, PFSCM takes a project-management approach to support clients with maintenance agreements, warranty extensions, site preparation, installation, after-sales service, and training. In addition, PFSCM has developed a portfolio of Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) products to improve national, regional, and global surveillance capacity for TB and other infectious diseases. Learn more about our genomic surveillance offering here.

Importance of investing in TB screening and preventive treatment

Even though TB is a curable disease, it still causes 1.3 million deaths each year and affects millions more, with enormous impacts on families and communities. While global efforts to combat TB have saved an estimated 75 million lives since the year 2000, it is essential to make crucial public health investments to address the needs of vulnerable populations and achieve the End TB targets. According to the WHO investment report, implementing TB screening plus preventive treatment can substantially reduce TB incidence and mortality. WHO urges investments for the scale-up of tuberculosis screening and preventive treatment. As a procurement services agent and 4PL services provider, PFSCM is committed to playing its part in ensuring that quality-assured TB products and diagnostic services reach those in need. [1] World Health Organization. (2017). Laboratory diagnosis of tuberculosis by sputum microscopy: the handbook. Geneva: World Health Organization.