WHO 72nd Regional Committee for Europe - EU Statement: Item 8 – Tuberculosis action plan for the WHO European Region 2023–2030

Honourable chair,

Distinguished Director General, Regional Director

Excellencies,

Colleagues,

I speak on behalf of the EU and its Member States.

We welcome the adoption of the Tuberculosis action plan for the WHO European Region 2023-2030, especially with a view to the fact that Tuberculosis continues to pose a life-endangering public health threat in the WHO European region, disadvantaging vulnerable populations.

Concerned by the increasing global trend in mortality, the antimicrobial resistance must be addressed in a consistent manner. Worryingly, we also note that the incidence of the disease is rising, while there are persistent gaps and uneven progress towards the targets set during the High-level meeting on the fight against TB.

We highly acknowledge that some Member States, communities and vulnerable groups need specific evidence-based strategies and support in order to accelerate progress in preventing disease and deaths as well as the necessity of the equitable access expansion to interventions and new tools such as tele medicine.

With concern at the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Ukraine, we emphasize the necessity of continuing to provide essential TB services throughout the region, while recognizing that increased population migration may make the situation even more difficult.

We also reiterate that the rapid uptake of new guidance and innovations in TB and drug-resistant TB prevention and screening must remain central to tackling the disease as well as a strong commitment to Universal Health Coverage and strengthening health systems.

Thank you