Romania’s Ministry of Health has launched a pilot project to conduct the treatment of tuberculosis (TB) patients in outpatient settings, thereby avoiding unnecessary hospitalization. Launched on 9 January 2020, the project represents an important step in establishing people-centred care in the country.

The European Laboratory Initiative on TB, HIV and Viral Hepatitis (ELI), a regional network supporting a joint, patient-centred response to the 3 diseases, has set priorities for the next 2 years to improve integrated diagnostic services.

The international medical journal, The Lancet, has published an article demonstrating the benefits of integrated and people-centred services in responding to the rise of HIV, tuberculosis (TB) and viral hepatitis in eastern European and central Asian countries of the WHO European Region.

WHO/Europe has released an expert opinion on managing drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) in children and adolescents, supported by a commentary in the Lancet.

The secretariat of the European Tuberculosis Research Initiative (ERI-TB) at WHO/Europe seeks a maximum of 12 candidates with expertise in tuberculosis (TB) research to succeed current core group members of ERI-TB. According to the terms of reference of ERI-TB, core group members are selected for a period of 2.5–3 years. The first meeting of the newly appointed core group will be held jointly with outgoing members.

For the first time, 14 United Nations agencies have joined forces to end the epidemics of HIV, tuberculosis (TB) and viral hepatitis – Europe’s deadliest communicable diseases. The commitment was demonstrated with the launch of the first-ever United Nations Common Position on Ending HIV, TB and Viral Hepatitis through Intersectoral Collaboration in the WHO European Region.

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for Europe released a fact sheet, providing basic information on TB in the WHO European Region ahead of the UN High-Level Meeting on TB to be held on 26 September.

Karam is a 23-year-old from the Khatlon region of Tajikistan. He came to Moscow in 2015 to work in construction, and 2 years later fell ill with a high fever and headache. He felt as though he had no strength, but nevertheless tried to carry on. When his condition became so severe that he was barely conscious – a state described by his doctors as the edge of life and death – Karam’s uncle, with whom he lives, called an ambulance.

4% annual decrease too slow to end TB by 2030

“Access to quality care and medications is limited. Women, children, adolescents – representing over 60% of the affected people – and the elderly are disproportionately affected by a severe reduction in health services, care and support.”