Thursday, 19 March 2026

Over a decade since the WHO recommended replacement of smear microscopy with rapid molecular diagnostics, only half of people with TB have access to these tools. The slow pace of uptake of WHO-recommended rapid diagnostics (WRDs) results in a persistent gap in access inspite of a rich pipeline of new TB diagnostic tools. For example, it took approximately 5-7 years for countries in Africa to roll-out Xpert-based testing. Critical shifts are therefore needed to expand access to WRDs, including at the decentralised/community level. In this session, Dr Marguerite Massinga-Loembe, Independent Consultant, presented findings from a critical pathway analysis that was conducted across 5 African countries (Ethiopia, Gabon, Kenya, South Africa, and Nigeria). This analysis explored regulatory and market entry processes across the continent, identifying key stakeholders, steps, bottlenecks, and enablers along the introduction pathway.