Tuberculosis to cost world economy $1 trillion by 2030, warns report

KPMG published the report where outline estimates of the impact tuberculosis (TB) can have on economic development and growth. The analysis is considered in light of the Millennium Development Goals set by the United Nations for the years 2000-2015 and the Sustainable Development Goals, adopted by the United Nations in 2015, which cover 2015-2030.

The analysis estimates that, during the period of 2000-2015, TB related mortality caused the loss of US$ 616bn and that, in the absence of radical actions to curb the disease, future TB related mortality may lead to a further loss of US$ 984bn globally between 2015 and 2030 – a figure equivalent to the size of economy of the Netherlands in 2016.

The forecasts indicate that the greatest burden of the disease falls on less developed countries in South East Asia and Africa. Some countries, such as Lesotho, are projected to have the size of their economy 3.2% smaller in GDP terms by 2030 due to the prevalence of TB.