DUSHANBE, July 29, 2013, Asia-Plus – The review took place from June 15 to June 24, in response to the request of the Ministry of Health of Tajikistan for an external review of Tajikistan’s National Tuberculosis (TB) Program.

The review is reportedly conducted once three or five years, irrespective of the epidemiological burden of tuberculosis.  The previous review of TB prevention, control and care in Tajikistan was conducted in 2009.

The review’s objectives are to review progress in TB control with emphasis on DOTS strategy implementation, summarize the experience, lessons learnt and methods of work and to make recommendations for international donors, technical agencies and the Ministry of Health.  The review was coordinated by The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Ministry of Health of Tajikistan’s National TB Control program, and conducted by WHO and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) with participation of other international organizations.   

According to the WHO European Regional Office, Tajikistan is among the 27 high multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) burden countries in the world.  Although the country has committed to the Stop TB Strategy, there is a lack of drug supply management and there are problems with the procurement of quality-assured anti-TB drugs.  The TB detection rate is low and the TB information system is weak and does not supply reliable information to decision-makers.  The majority of TB hospitals do not meet internationally recognized infection control requirements.  Moreover, there is still a lack of human resource capacity to manage TB control, especially in rural areas at primary health care level because of poor motivation and low salaries.

About 85% of funds for TB control activities are contributed by The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (The Global Fund) and other donors. Despite the annual increase in the state budget on TB, there are insufficient government funds to cover the basic needs of the National TB Program (NTP), making Tajikistan dependent on external support and threatening sustainable TB interventions.