The cases of tuberculosis (TB) among non-citizens have been on the rise over the last five years and this has prompted calls by medical experts to tighten screenings at Immigration checkpoints and detention centres.

Malaysia reported 26,183 cases of TB in 2024, which is a marginal increase of 34 cases from 2023 and of these cases in 2024, 21,959 of those infected involved Malaysians, which is lower than 22,132 cases in 2023.

But there were 4,224 cases detected among foreigners last year, with the numbers continuing to rise since 2019. In 2019, 3,384 cases were reported, in 2020 it was 3,278 cases, in 2021 it was 3,050 cases, 3,720 cases in 2022 and 4,017 in 2023.

According to the health ministry, TB patients can recover if they receive treatment administered by qualified doctors, but deaths can occur if TB is left untreated or if treatment is delayed by the victim.

Based on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, Malaysia’s health ministry has earmarked the target to reduce cases by 80 percent and death rates by an appropriate target of 90 percent by the year 2030.

For this, the National Strategic Plan to End TB by year 2030 was established and aims to conduct early detection through targeted screening, early treatment and ensuring patients recuperate to prevent the spread of the infection.

-THE MALAYSIA VOICE