Progress Towards Ending Tuberculosis in the European Region at Risk Amidst COVID-19 Pandemic

Slow Progress Towards Achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for TB Elimination

The United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals have outlined the target to eliminate tuberculosis (TB) as a global public health threat by 2030. To achieve this, the World Health Organization (WHO) End TB Strategy has set subtargets of reducing TB incidence and deaths by 80% and 90%, respectively, by 2030. Unfortunately, a recent study assessing global and regional TB targets for the European Union and European Economic Area (EU/EEA) has shown that the region is far from achieving these targets.

In order to achieve an 80% reduction in TB incidence by 2030, the EU/EEA needs to reach 2.4 TB cases per 100,000 population. Despite declining rates of TB incidence and deaths from 2015 to 2021, the rate of decline is not fast enough to meet the targets set out by the UN SDGs. Furthermore, new strategies are needed to increase methods of identifying TB cases and developing new TB preventive treatments.

Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Efforts to End TB in European Region

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the capacity to prevent, diagnose and treat TB, making it even harder to meet targets for ending tuberculosis in Europe. Although the incidence of TB in the WHO European Region is decreasing, current rates of decline will not be sufficient to meet the targets set by the UN SDGs. Diagnosis and treatment remain key interventions in interrupting transmission and preventing development of tuberculosis.

Despite an increase in the number of notified TB cases in many countries in the region, there were still 23% fewer TB cases in 2021 than there were back in 2019. The region has an increased burden of drug-resistant cases and below-target treatment success rates. An estimated one in three cases of pulmonary TB in the region is resistant to rifampicin, and successful treatment outcomes for new and relapsed TB and RR/MDR-TB cohorts were below the targets set. Additionally, HIV prevalence in incident TB cases remains high.

Urgent investment is required in resources, support, and care to fight against TB, particularly with the COVID-19 pandemic still ongoing.

New Technologies to Combat TB

New technologies, such as rapid molecular diagnoses, shorter regimens for prevention and treatment, and innovative digital health solutions, can play a big role in fighting tuberculosis. Strong partnerships between member states, donor agencies, and affected communities are urgently needed to ensure that everyone living with TB receives the necessary treatment and care.

Fragmented approaches and a lack of collaboration between stakeholders could lead to failure in ending tuberculosis. Strong leadership, boosted investment in people-centered care, research and scaling up innovations for TB are necessary to achieve the target of eliminating TB as a public health threat by 2030.

Call for Global Leaders to Commit to Ending TB

The speaker of WHO European Dr. Hans Henri P. Kluge believes it is achievable to end tuberculosis with collaborative efforts among global leaders.

The second UN High-Level Meeting on TB will be held in September 2023. Global leaders will come together to commit to new targets and set new milestones to end TB. These commitments must lead to action and accountability at all levels.

TB is largely a disease of poverty and neglect that affects some of the most vulnerable populations while shrouded in stigma and discrimination. Nevertheless, huge strides have been made in tackling tuberculosis that include addressing social determinants through economic factors linked with disease incidence.

In conclusion, ending tuberculosis remains unfinished business despite the region having excellent know-how about how to end it. The goal to end TB by 2030 is achievable given the availability of diagnostic and treatment options. However, progress has been slow due to numerous crises and factors such as COVID-19. Investments are required in resources, support, and care to fight against TB to achieve the target of eliminating TB as a public health threat by 2030.

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