Slovakia moves towards TB elimination

WHO/Europe and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) conducted a joint review of existing policies and plans for tuberculosis (TB) elimination in Slovakia on 11–14 March 2013. Upon request of the Ministry of Health and under coordination of the WHO Country Office, the team visited several health care facilities across the country, reviewed TB recording and reporting system surveillance and treatment schemes and interviewed health professionals and patients.

Following the visits, the team met with the Slovak Ministry of Health and national experts to present their findings and recommendations.

Slovakia has successfully reduced the tuberculosis rate to 6.4 cases per 100 000 population, and is now entering the elimination phase. The team recommended measures to maintain and strengthen TB diagnosis, prevention, treatment and care, paying particular attention to vulnerable populations. It also recommended that a TB elimination plan be prepared focused on equitable access to care in line with the European health policy Health 2020.