India, March 20 -- My journey in tuberculosis (TB) care began in hospital settings, diagnosing and treating patients with what I viewed as a purely biomedical problem. However, working with underserved populations, engaging policymakers, and conducting research over the last decades has transformed my perspective. TB is not just a medical condition; it is deeply intertwined with social, economic, and systemic realities. Which is why TB elimination will not just be a medical milestone, but a marker of enormous social progress. For this, we need to improve access, reduce stigma and discrimination, engage the private sector, invest in advanced diagnostics and treatments, and provide holistic support to patients.

My perspective began to tran...