Atividade Parlamentar Tuberculosis in Europe - Eliminating the modern threat

In her capacity of member of the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy, Maria da Graça Carvalho hosted today in the European Parliament a lunchtime debate on Tuberculosis organised by The European Respiratory Society ERS. The aim of the debate was to discuss the actions needed for TB control and elimination in Europe.  

The overarching message of the event, which was initiated by the Past-President of the European Respiratory Society, Professor Francesco Blasi, is that despite the dire situation, TB elimination in Europe is possible.   

ERS Secretary-General, Giovanni Battista Migliori, said that TB is not a disease of the past. Mortality from multidrug-resistant TB is high, and lack of rapid testing and good treatment is missing in a number of EU Member States. To reverse the situation, political pledges, coordination between the Member States, more research and free access to TB services are urgently needed. 

According to the host of the event, Maria da Graça Carvalho, "TB is becoming increasingly more dangerous and anyone can become infected. Political commitment in the EU is key to wider TB recognition and subsequent action. I will urge the European Parliament to call on the European Commission and the Member States to establish clear targets, clear plans and clear pledges, with committed funding".  

Co-host Carl Schlyter stated, "Universal access to diagnosis and care is necessary throughout Europe to prevent the selection of MDR/XDR strains, as treatment is very difficult, long and expensive. The European Union is best placed to take leadership in the elimination of TB, to which it is already committed".

There is a growing threat of a re‐emergence in Europe of a fatal form of tuberculosis - multidrug‐resistant tuberculosis (MDR‐TB) and extensively drug‐resistant tuberculosis (XDR‐TB). The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 400,000 tuberculosis cases occur in Europe, a large proportion of them among migrants. A coordinated public health mechanism to guarantee TB prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care across borders is not in place.

The European Respiratory Society (ERS) is a professional medical organisation with more than 12,000 members in over 100 countries across the globe representing medical and scientific experts in the field of respiratory medicine and lung science.