Review of the National Tuberculosis Programme in Belarus

Belarus is a top-priority country for prevention and control of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB), recently documented at the highest levels in the world. In recent years, Belarus has revised its national tuberculosis (TB) policies and guidelines according to international recommendations and supported the effective implementation of two TB grants received from the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (Global Fund). In consideration of the revised TB policies and guidelines and the need to evaluate their implementation in the light of the high rates of MDR-TB, the Ministry of Health of Belarus decided to undertake an external review of the National TB Programme. In June 2011, it asked the WHO Regional Office for Europe to assist in the organization of the review.

The review took place from 10 to 21 October 2011, with the participation of 11 international and nine national experts visiting Minsk city and the three oblasts (regions) of Minsk, Gomel and Vitebsk.