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WHO Releases Response Plan for Drug Resistant Tuberculosis

By Crystal Franco, June 22, 2007

On June 22, 2007, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced the launch1 of its new Global Multi Drug Resistant Tuberculosis (MDR-TB) and Extensively Drug Resistant Tuberculosis (XDR-TB) Response Plan.2 The plan was published and launched on June 22 by WHO and the Stop TB Partnership and will be implemented over a span of two years from 2007 through 2008. The plan provides “measures needed to prevent, treat and control extensively drug-resistant TB (XDR-TB) and multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB).” Additionally, the plan provides steps for reaching a goal of “providing access to drugs and diagnostic tests to all MDR-TB and XDR-TB patients” by 2015. WHO projects that implementation of its Response Plan will save up to 134,000 lives by 2008 and 1.2 million lives by 2015.1

WHO notes that more than 400,000 cases of MDR-TB are reported every year, and XDR-TB has been a global threat since its discovery in 2006. There has been heightened concern about XDR-TB in recent weeks following media coverage of the U.S. citizen who was notified of his positive test for the disease during overseas travel for his wedding and honeymoon.1

The WHO plan offers steps that the organization believes should be taken in 2007 and 2008 at the regional, national, and international levels in order to address the “rising problem of anti-TB drug resistance.” In particular, the plan provides guidance for health officials on integrating MDR-TB and XDR-TB control practices into general TB control programs and activities.2

Priorities of the global plan include:

• Determining the “magnitude, distribution, treatment practices and outcomes of XDR-TB”;
• expansion of TB laboratory services internationally;
• development of “sound TB infection control policies and their implementation;
• gathering of “sustained political commitment” and support; 
• increased research and development for new diagnostic tools and treatments.2

"A highly important element of the plan is a steady supply of quality drugs to treat MDR-TB and XDR-TB in underserved countries," said Dr. Marcos Espinal, Executive Secretary of the Stop TB Partnership. According to the WHO press release, the plan offers a strategy for “sufficiently increasing the number of fully equipped TB laboratories in countries with high levels of TB to achieve a ten-fold increase in detection of MDR-TB cases.” If the plan is implemented, the number of “MDR-TB and XDR-TB patients being treated and cured under WHO guidelines” is also projected to increase ten-fold.1

According to WHO, the budget for the response plan is set at $2.15 billion, 80% of which will be allocated directly for “country-specific needs” to fight drug resistant TB. The other 20% of the funds will go to WHO and its international partners to lead the response. In the press release, WHO Director-General Dr. Margaret Chan emphasized the importance and potential lasting impact of the plan. “XDR-TB is a threat to the security and stability of global health. This response plan identifies costs, milestones and priorities for health services that will continue to have an impact beyond its two-year time line," she said.1

References

1. New plan to contain drug resistant TB. WHO Press Release. June 22, 2007. Available at: http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/releases/2007/pr32/en/index.html. Accessed June 22, 2007.
2. Extremely Drug Resistant Tuberculosis (XDR-TB) Response Plan. WHO. June 2007. Available at: http://www.who.int/tb/publications/2007/global_response_plan.pdf. Accessed June 22, 2007.