Tuberculosis control in Greenland. Report on a country visit (30 April – 6 May 2010)

2011

In view of an observed tuberculosis incidence exceeding 100 cases per 100 000 population, the Minister of Health of Greenland asked the WHO Regional Office for Europe to organize a country visit jointly with the State Serum Institute of Denmark and the Danish Lung Association. The visit took place in the south of the country from 30 April to 6 May 2010. The population is scattered in several small communities, often difficult to reach, and the health service suffers from a high turnover of staff who mostly come from Denmark. 

The recent health reform has tried to address both challenges and to refocus the health services, introducing clear national guidelines with supervision and telemedicine to increase access to and the quality of services. 

Together with national colleagues, the visitors developed a number of recommendations in line with the health reform for improving the national TB strategy.