Regional Conference for Eastern Europe and Central Asia on the Progress of Implementation of the Tuberculosis Action Plan for the WHO European Region 2016–2020

15–16 October 2018, Tbilisi, Georgia

Ending the tuberculosis (TB) epidemic by 2030 is among the health targets of the Sustainable Development Goals. As the countries of the WHO European Region continue to implement their respective national TB action plans, which are in line with the Tuberculosis Action Plan for the WHO European Region 2016–2020, it is essential to assess the progress made so far, reconsider the needs and challenges, and plan for specific future actions.

To address this objective, WHO/Europe in collaboration with the Ministry of Health of Georgia and the Georgian National Center for Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases (NCTLD), with the support of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, is jointly organizing a 2-day regional conference on the interim results of the Tuberculosis Action Plan, in Tbilisi, Georgia.

The overall aim of the conference is to share the achievements and challenges that countries of eastern Europe and central Asia (EECA) experience in reaching the targets of the Tuberculosis Action Plan.

The Regional Conference will be attended by EECA country representatives, managers of national TB prevention and care programmes and national experts/focal points for the introduction of new drugs and treatments regimens, as well as strategic partners, donors and research partners.

Objectives

  • Demonstrate the progress made and challenges identified in the implementation of the Tuberculosis Action Plan and WHO policies on multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) treatment and care – with a closer look at the new drugs and shorter regimen, including experience with active pharmacovigilance, patient-centred models of care, and research and development.
  • Define technical assistance needs of countries, including revision of national TB action plans and MDR-TB treatment policies based on WHO recommendations.
  • Discuss follow-up actions on the United Nations General Assembly high-level meeting on TB.
  • Agree on next steps by counties, WHO and other key partner organizations.

Expected outcomes

  • Progress made and challenges that EECA countries experience in achieving the targets of the Tuberculosis Action Plan are shared and documented.
  • Follow-up action on the high-level meeting on TB is discussed.
  • Technical assistance needs of countries and next steps are identified and agreed upon.

For more information, please contact Dr Sayohat Hasanova: hasanovas@who.int