Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the world's leading infectious diseases with grave impact on global health and economic welfare consequences. According to the World Economic Forum, TB is responsible for a $13 billion decline in worker productivity each year. Roughly one-third of businesses worldwide anticipate negative economic impacts from TB during the next five years, according to a survey by the Global Health Initiative. TB incidence is high throughout Asia; it rises to extreme levels in Sub-Saharan Africa, where it manifests as a result of the explosive HIV/AIDS epidemic. A number of high-incidence TB regions including Sub-Saharan Africa are also contending with XDR TB, extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis, a more lethal form of TB that cannot be treated with current TB drugs. TB is a heavy burden on business, disrupting workflow, reducing productivity, and increasing both direct costs related to care and treatment and indirect costs, such as the replacement and retraining of workers. Fortunately, employees and companies benefit greatly from workplace TB management: Workers gain awareness and receive TB treatment, and companies can cut costs by reducing absenteeism, staff turnover and transmission to other workers. Workplace TB management also provides companies with an opportunity to demonstrate social commitment to the communities in which they work.

Workplace Programs Companies operating in high incidence tuberculosis (TB) regions have a unique opportunity to combat the disease by developing and implementing comprehensive workplace TB programs. Many of the principles for effective TB and HIV workplace management are complementary; as a result, companies can benefit from joint clinical management and education. Every company should begin by conducting a situation analysis to verify the need for TB interventions and help determine goals, targets, and monitoring and evaluation protocol. Comprehensive workplace TB programs include a corporate TB policy, education and training, case management (diagnosis and treatment), and monitoring and evaluation. Workplace TB policies should recognize TB as a workplace issue, ensure non-discrimination and confidentiality, provide for paid leave for confirmed TB cases, offer access to services, and promote social dialogue. Education and training efforts may include an introduction to the company's TB control program and policy, general TB education, and technical training. Effective case management may include microscopic diagnosis, specific antibiotic TB treatment, adjunctive therapy, and supportive care including vitamins and good nutrition. The low cost of TB treatment further strengthens the cost-benefit outcomes on the company bottom-line. Employers should also ensure that workplaces are illuminated with natural light and have proper ventilation to help minimize the spread of TB. Air disinfection and filtering devices should be installed, especially in clinics that care for TB patients. These devices prevent or reduce airborne TB transmission (and other airborne diseases) to non-infected employees.

Community Involvement Companies interested in protecting their workers from TB must address the continuum between the workplace and the surrounding community. Since workers can be exposed to the TB bacillus by breathing the same air as individuals with active infections, reduced incidence and expedited TB treatment among community members also means a significantly lower risk to a company's workers. Community factors such as housing and overcrowding and lifestyles including excessive alcohol use and inadequate nutrition, are significant determinants in the spread of TB. Finally, protecting worker's dependants will save lives, help alleviate an enormous social and health burden, and reduce worker absenteeism. Companies can facilitate community TB initiatives through philanthropy, local program development, workplace program expansion, health sector support, and public private partnerships with governments, NGOs and affected groups. GBC advocates co-investment, a tried and tested partnership arrangement that provides communities with access to company health facilities.

Core Competencies Whether large or small, companies can implement TB control programs by tapping the core business competencies they use in day-to-day operations, including strategic planning, technology development, logistics, human resources management, product distribution and marketing. Many large companies already have crucial infrastructure — health clinics, medical staff, information dissemination systems — in place. GBC member companies can apply their core competencies and products to the TB response through public private partnerships with NGOs, governments and civil society. Health care companies, for example, can develop new drugs, cheaper and more efficient diagnostic tuberculosis tests, and vaccines; media and entertainment firms can promote tuberculosis awareness and educate consumers about prevention and treatment.

Advocacy & Leadership Business leaders yield tremendous power to promote change and influence public health policy. Within their companies, senior management can address stigma and discrimination, promote innovative prevention approaches, ensure that those who are infected receive necessary treatment, and facilitate employee social responsibility through fundraising campaigns and other philanthropic efforts. Since the discovery of anti-TB treatment, decades have passed without new drug development, or injection of additional funding to fight TB. In the meantime, TB epidemics in the developing world and emerging economies have been growing. With growing corporate interest to outsource and invest in these regions, the strength and voice of business can bring renewed vigor to put TB back on the agenda with donors, policy makers and communities around the world. GBC identifies opportunities for CEOs and Chairpersons to leverage their power, build alliances, and speak at high-profile platforms. The organization convenes CEOs and Corporate Advisory Board Members to publicly support tuberculosis initiatives and call for increased government support. As the official focal point of the private sector delegation to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, the organization facilitates multi-sector tuberculosis collaboration.