Child friendly TB drugs on the way

Australian aid money has helped develop child friendly tuberculosis drugs.

New York-based Tuberculosis Alliance spokeswoman Cherise Scott is in Sydney for a major conference on the disease and says the drugs will be on the market early next year.

She told AAP children with the disease would no longer have to take crushed tablets intended for adult sufferers, meaning they would get the proper dosage.

The move will particularly benefit children in Papua New Guinea, Pacific islands and Indonesia where TB rates are among the highest in the world.

Dr Scott praised Australia's leadership in the fight against TB but warned it could do more and should help fund a new drug trial.