The WHO Global Programme on Tuberculosis (TB) and Lung Health, in collaboration with WHO/Europe, Médecins Sans Frontières, KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation and Unitaid, is conducting a capacity-building workshop for 12 TB high-priority countries of the WHO European Region.
This workshop will focus on implementing new WHO policies on the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of TB and drug-resistant TB (DR-TB). The event will gather representatives of national TB programmes, reference laboratory managers, supranational reference laboratory experts, WHO technical officers at the country, regional and headquarters levels, key stakeholders, technical partners, civil society and donors.
The primary goal of the workshop is to accelerate the adoption of WHO’s latest policies on TB prevention, systematic screening, diagnostics and DR-TB treatment, preparing participants to effectively apply these policies, which will strengthen TB management and care across the Region.
The workshop’s objectives include:
- enhancing technical skills among country representatives while improving their understanding and practical application of the most recent WHO guidelines and operational handbooks on preventive treatment and screening as well as TB diagnosis and DR-TB treatment;
- expanding knowledge on advanced diagnostic methods, such as the molecular testing of respiratory and stool samples and targeted next-generation sequencing for drug susceptibility testing, to refine diagnostic accuracy for both drug-susceptible and DR-TB in high-risk groups, including children, individuals living with HIV and those with DR-TB; and
- sharing experiences and best practices to address challenges, thereby informing realistic implementation strategies for TB and DR-TB prevention, diagnosis and treatment.
About the new WHO TB and DR-TB guidelines
In 2024, WHO revised global policies on TB prevention, diagnostics, social protection and DR- TB treatment. The revisions include:
- new guidelines for TB preventive treatment for contacts of multidrug-resistant or rifampicin- resistant TB (MDR/RR-TB) patients;
- concurrent initial diagnostic testing for vulnerable populations;
- the implementation of targeted next-generation sequencing for drug susceptibility testing and patient management; and
- the introduction of new regimens for DR-TB treatment, including a 6-month regimen and a variety of 9-month regimens.
The execution of these updated policies signifies a major shift in the global response to TB. This will require countries to revise their national guidelines, train health-care professionals, secure financial and human resources and ensure the provision of essential diagnostic and treatment elements necessary for the implementation of the updated guidelines