The pandemic changed the nature of tuberculosis treatment for women – as gendered barriers relating to stigma and mobility worsened during the lockdown.

“Women are the main caregivers in our society; they tend to TB patients and become susceptible to the disease," said an expert.

1,566 of the patients in the study were from India and in the "lower middle income" category, which has the highest risk of missing surgery.

"It was obviously crucial that we tackle the pandemic but we cannot forget that we have other killers in our midst."

"[The algorithm] allows us to give preventive treatment to people who are most likely to benefit."