29/01/2026
New evidence from Ukraine shows how war disrupts TB care delivery. A new publication derived from the Unitaid-funded ASCENT project examines how the 2022 invasion affected engagement with digital adherence technologies for TB treatment. The study found significant declines in real-time adherence monitoring, particularly in regions most affected by conflict, driven by displacement, disrupted communications, and health workforce shortages.
Despite these challenges, the findings also highlight the continued importance of digital tools in maintaining continuity of care when traditional, facility-based models are no longer feasible. For Unitaid, this reinforces the need to invest in resilient, flexible TB care approaches that can adapt to conflict and crisis. People with TB cannot pause treatment during war, and health systems must be equipped with solutions that can withstand extreme disruption.
With thanks to the affiliated partners: the Organization for Appropriate Technologies in Health and the Program for Appropriate Technology in Health, Ukraine; the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine; KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation; The Aurum Institute; and the University of Witwatersrand's School of Public Health.
Find out more below!
What is the effect of on people with ?🚨
Our recent publication suggests that the effect of war is neither instantaneous nor uniform.👈
Across countries, there is a striking variation in the impact of armed conflicts on notifications and a lack of in-depth understanding of patterns observed in treatment outcomes.
📌In Ukraine, the disruption in health service delivery resulted in people with TB being less likely to access life-saving treatment or support to help them complete a treatment course. An additional layer of disruption included health care personnel being forced to leave their homes and workplaces.
👉Through the Adherence Support Coalition to End TB ( ), with financial support from Unitaid, we conducted a clinical trial utilizing (DATs) to evaluate the improvement of treatment success rate among adults with drug-susceptible TB. A recent publication derived form this in provides evidence on the different trajectories of changes in and patient engagement with the treatment and DATs over the course of the war and their variation across different geographies.
📌Read the full article here: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12826589/
A lesson learned is that DATs allowed HCWs to monitor and provide support for patients who were migrating due to war, and potentially improve treatment outcomes. Learn more about DATs here: https://youtu.be/ysiO8rqoXdo?si=qiPECl5VQaFEwD9i
London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine | Organization for Appropriate Technologies in Health, Ukraine | Program for Appropriate Technology, Ukraine | The Aurum Institute | Wits - University of the Witwatersrand
