International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease

The International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (The Union) is an international scientific organization in existence since 1920. The Un Read moreion has been a leader in the field of tuberculosis since its establishment and works closely with leading international, regional, and local tuberculosis control agencies, including the World Health Organization (WHO). Its experts developed the DOTS strategy, adopted by the WHO in 1993 for the global control of tuberculosis and implemented by 184 countries, covering 93% of the world’s population. The core values of The Union are quality of its technical work, independence with an emphasis on critical evaluation, solidarity with countries with limited resources, and overriding accountability in all aspects of the work. The Union southeast Asia Office is located in New Delhi and has operated as a regional office since opening in 2003, bringing the global TB expertise and experience to major projects in India to and support the Revised National TB Programme and other key partners in the country.

The Union's vision is 'A healthier world for all, free of tuberculosis and lung disease' and its mission is to end suffering due to tuberculosis and lung diseases by advancing better prevention and care through the generation, dissemination, and implementation of knowledge into policy and practice.

Key milestones include the development of the BCG vaccine by Union members Albert Calmette and Camille Gu茅rin in 1921, the creation of the DOTS strategy for TB control, and the establishment of the Global Asthma Network in 2012.