RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Tuberculosis elimination: theory and practice in Europe
JF European Respiratory Journal
JO Eur Respir J
FD European Respiratory Society
SP 1410
OP 1420
DO 10.1183/09031936.00198813
VO 43
IS 5
A1 Lia D'Ambrosio
A1 Masoud Dara
A1 Marina Tadolini
A1 Rosella Centis
A1 Giovanni Sotgiu
A1 Marieke J. van der Werf
A1 Mina Gaga
A1 Daniela Cirillo
A1 Antonio Spanevello
A1 Mario Raviglione
A1 Francesco Blasi
A1 Giovanni Battista Migliori
YR 2014
UL http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/43/5/1410.abstract
AB Although Europe identified the pathway to tuberculosis (TB) elimination in 1990, no information on programmes for country preparedness is available. A questionnaire investigating TB elimination activities was submitted to 38 national TB programme representatives of low TB incidence (<20 cases per 100 000 population) European countries/territories of the World Health Organization European region. Out of 31 providing a complete answer, 17 (54.8%) reported to have a dedicated national TB programme, 20 (64.5%) a national plan including TB elimination (13 (41.9%) including targets), 22 (71%) guidelines, 14 (45.2%) a specific budget for TB activities, and 23 (74.2%) TB reference centres. All countries reported having case-based electronic TB surveillance, 19 (61.3%) perform regular supervision, 12 (38.7%) have a monitoring and evaluation plan and five (16.1%) perform modelling. In three countries (9.7%), TB health services are free for insured individuals only. In 22 countries/territories (71%) not all TB drugs were available, while in 12 (38.7%) drug stock-outs have been described. Although high-risk group screening for latent TB infection is performed by the majority of countries, only 6 (19.4%) provided figures on preventive treatment completion rates. Not all elements identified as essential for country preparedness to achieve TB elimination are available in the countries surveyed. As TB elimination interventions are sub-optimally applied, more training, awareness and political commitment are necessary http://ow.ly/ru6PV