Fourth meeting of national tuberculosis programme managers (Helsinki, 2000)

Tuberculosis (TB) control in parts of Europe requires urgent action. Drug-resistant TB is increasing rapidly. In parts of central and eastern Europe, economic decline, poverty, overcrowded prisons and fractured medical services mean that TB rates are increasing and multidrug-resistant strains are rapidly emerging. There is also a growing epidemic of HIV infection, which is likely to compound TB control problems. This fourth biennial meeting of national tuberculosis programme managers was convened to facilitate the exchange of information on TB control from countries across Europe and from international partners. Also addressed were problems in and successes relating to DOTS implementation, the influence of health care reform on national TB control programmes, and strategies to respond to multidrug-resistant strains.