The collaboration will enable countries to procure the WHO endorsed Truenat platform at internationally negotiated prices, making the technology more accessible and affordable across the world
Global Fund, USAID and Stop TB Partnership entered into a collaboration with Goa-based Molbio Diagnostics, point-of-care molecular diagnostics company and inventor of the globally renowned Truenat platform.
The collaboration will enable countries to procure the WHO endorsed Truenat platform at internationally negotiated prices, making the technology more accessible and affordable across the world.
The collaborative partnership is a crucial move in the global fight to end tuberculosis by 2030. The move enables high-quality rapid TB testing – one of the largest shortfalls in the global TB response – in all nations supported by the Global Fund, USAID, and the Stop TB Partnership.
Truenat is a portable, battery-operated, IoT-enabled, multi-disease, real-time PCR platform with a sample-to-result time of less than 1 hour. The platform can test over 40 diseases, such as COVID-19, TB, HCV, HBV, HIV, HPV, Dengue, Malaria, Influenza, Herpes and typhoid.
With its novel ability to work at point of care, Truenat can be deployed at peripheral health facilities thus ensuring access to a rapid molecular diagnosis for everyone in need.
The National Tuberculosis Elimination Program has already deployed Truenat in over 3500 PHCs/CHCs across all states in India. The international collaboration will now provide an opportunity for other countries to adopt this Indian technology under their respective national TB programs, for global impact.
Commenting on the collaboration, Sriram Natarajan, CEO, Founder and Director, Molbio Diagnostics, said, “This partnership will help democratise and increase access to timely and accurate diagnostic settings to affected patients, thus helping Molbio achieve its goal of providing complete testing solutions via the Truenat platform. Molbio is aligned with the Global TB Eradication goal 2030 and will continue to develop novel solutions for improved patient care and disease eradication.”
Peter Sands, Executive Director, The Global Fund said, “We are delighted to partner with Molbio Diagnostics. They play a crucial role in meeting the need for improved diagnostic solutions and technologies. We look forward to making these TB products more affordable and accessible in the countries where we invest.”
Dr Atul Gawande, USAID’s Assistant Administrator for Global Health said, “USAID is committed to creating a TB-free world, and that starts with expanding access to critical diagnostic testing to reach every person with TB,” said . “This new technology will allow countries to expand rapid TB diagnostic testing to more rural, hard-to-reach populations at the primary care level –and at a significantly lower cost than current testing options.”
Dr Lucica Ditiu, Executive Director, Stop TB Partnership said, “This is a historical moment. For the first time ever, we have a rapid molecular test for TB and rifampicin resistance that is less than US$8 per test, more than 20 per cent lower than what is currently available on the market for these types of tests. We also have an amazing ‘package of services’ offered by Molbio, and a commitment to offer low prices for private sector providers. We are thrilled by this collaboration with a company from the highest TB burden country that fully understands the need for securing access to a rapid molecular diagnosis for everyone in need. I hope we all feel now even more comfortable saying ‘Yes! We can end TB.”