Moldovan government approved National Tuberculosis Response Program for 2022-2025

Chisinau, Feb. 23 / MOLDPRES /- Today the cabinet approved the National Tuberculosis Response Program for 2022-2025, as well as the action plan for its implementation.

According to the government's communication and protocol department, by 2025, following the implementation of the Program, it is proposed to achieve several results, including reducing the incidence of tuberculosis by 50% and mortality by 75% compared to 2015. Also, the increase is expected. cure rate among patients, improving access to diagnosis and treatment for all citizens.

The program includes seven priority objectives, including ensuring universal access to systematic screening of contacts and groups at high risk for tuberculosis; early diagnosis and drug susceptibility testing, including the use of rapid tests; to quality treatment and continuous care, by individual approach and based on the needs of each person. The document also provides for ensuring the continuity of medical services, managing diseases and socio-economic problems according to personal needs; expanding the preventive treatment of tuberculosis; strengthening the individual, gender-sensitive and human rights-based approach to creating an effective and sustainable response to tuberculosis; strengthening national research and innovation capacity.

The municipal councils of Chisinau, Balti and the district councils are to develop, approve and ensure the implementation of territorial tuberculosis response programs based on the National Program. We specify that its application will be monitored by the National Council for the Coordination of National Programs for the Prevention and Control of HIV / AIDS, Sexually Transmitted Infections and Tuberculosis Control.

The national tuberculosis response program for 2022-2025 will be implemented from the financial means approved annually in the national public budget, as well as from other sources, according to the legislation in force, including the resources of the grant provided by the Global Fund. For this purpose, a total budget of over 1.3 billion lei is foreseen.

In the Republic of Moldova, tuberculosis remains one of the priority public health issues, and progress on the prevention and treatment of tuberculosis has been severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Thus, between March and December 2020, the data show a reduction of over 38% in the notification of tuberculosis cases in our country. Under these conditions, service delivery practices for people diagnosed with the disease have been adjusted, including through the implementation and expansion of video-assisted treatment, the use of short treatment regimens and non-injectable regimens.

Photo: tuberculoza.md