REACH first Indian NGO to receive the Kochon Prize 2026 for contribution to TB care

REACH first Indian NGO to receive the Kochon Prize 2026 for contribution to TB care
Prestigious global recognition honours REACH’s contribution to advancing people-centred tuberculosis care in India

Resource group for Education and Advocacy for Community Health (REACH), a not-for-profit organization working to strengthen the tuberculosis (TB) response in India, has been awarded the Kochon Prize 2026, becoming the first civil society, non-profit organization from India to receive this prestigious global recognition for its contributions to combating TB.

Presented by the Kochon Foundation, an independent Korean non-profit foundation, in partnership with the Stop TB Partnership, the Kochon Prize recognises individuals and organisations that have made significant contributions to the fight against TB and is the largest award dedicated exclusively to TB. The 2026 Kochon Prize is shared by REACH, the Centre for Health Solutions, Kenya, and the Marshall Islands TB Control Program. Previous winners from India include Dr. L.S. Chauhan (2006), head of the Revised National TB Control Programme, the Indian Council of Medical Research (2017) and Molbio Diagnostics (2024).

The award was presented at the Stop TB Partnership Board Meeting held in Indonesia on 5th November 2026. This year’s theme, “Integrating the TB response in different health services to improve early diagnosis and treatment of people with TB,” reflects REACH’s commitment over the 27+ years since inception to advancing integrated, people-centred care that addresses the clinical, social and economic needs of people affected by tuberculosis.

“I am delighted that REACH has been awarded the Kochon Prize for 2026. REACH is a remarkable and rare organisation that has been consistently ahead of the curve in terms of public health action, and particularly in the field of TB. A women-led organisation, they genuinely care about the people they’re supporting, beyond the numbers, data and reports to donors. However, they combine this with a robust scientific and technical approach and a shrewd understanding of the public health landscape in the country. Their legacy is already rich, and I have no doubt that they will continue to grow, to innovate and to positively impact lives”, said Dr Soumya Swaminathan, Chairperson, M. S. Swaminathan Research Foundation and former Chief Scientist, WHO, who nominated REACH for the award.
Over the years, REACH has championed approaches that place people affected by TB at the centre of care, working in collaboration with the National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP), private healthcare providers, community health workers, TB Champions, partners and communities to improve access to quality, comprehensive TB services.

“Treat the person, not the disease – our journey with TB communities has been just that. We realised early on that overcoming barriers to care means addressing more than clinical needs – it means recognising social, community, family, mental health and situational challenges. That is the essence of integrated care: seeing the whole person, understanding their realities, and doing whatever it takes to ensure that no one is left behind”, said Dr Nalini Krishnan, Chairperson and Co-Founder, REACH.

“This recognition is testimony to the dedication of the community health workers, TB Nanbans and TB Champions who work alongside us, and to the families affected by TB and non-communicable diseases (NCDs) who have placed their trust in us. We are deeply grateful to their unwavering commitment and fortitude, and are energised to do more to help facilitate equitable access to health”, said Dr Ramya Ananthakrishnan, Director, REACH.