Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

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# 92000E2290

**WRITTEN QUESTION E-2290/00 by Nicholas Clegg (ELDR) to the Commission. DOTS anti-tuberculosis drugs programme.** 
  
*Official Journal 089 E , 20/03/2001 P. 0176 - 0177*

  

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2290/00

by Nicholas Clegg (ELDR) to the Commission

(11 July 2000)

Subject: DOTS anti-tuberculosis drugs programme

Is the Commission aware of the DOTS anti-tuberculosis drugs programme, which has been highly praised by the World Bank and the WHO?

What support is the EU presently giving to the DOTS drugs programme?

What EU support is planned for the DOTS programme in the future?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(18 September 2000)

The Commission is aware and fully supportive of World Health Organisation (WHO) activities on tuberculosis (TB), such as the Stop TB initiative, based on the directly observed therapy short course (DOTS) strategy.

Many initiatives undertaken by the Community are important for TB control in Europe and in the rest of the world, such as the Community network for the epidemiological surveillance and control of communicable diseases(1), that brings into permanent communication the institutes and public health authorities dealing with infectious diseases. The Community action programme on acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) and other communicable diseases(2), provides financial assistance to projects such as Euro-TB (surveillance of tuberculosis in 51 countries of the WHO European Region). Assistance programmes in favour of Central Eastern European Countries and New Independent States provide funding for projects in the area of disease prevention and control and health care system reform. The Commission plans to implement a Tacis project in Ukraine under the action programme 2000 to assist in combating TB by implementing the WHO recommended DOTS strategy, and by producing TB drugs that are compliant with good manufacturing practices.

In the field of development policy the Community has recently reiterated its commitment to combat the three major health scourges in Africa, human immunodeficiecy virus (HIV)/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis. In the context of the international cooperation with developing countries (INCO) programme, the Commission finances a project in Zambia aimed at the decentralization of TB treatment by using the DOTS strategy ( 1 million).

Through humanitarian aid during the last years the Commission has supported TB control projects in Russia based on the DOTS strategy with a financial contribution of about 3 million. Furthermore, the Commission has funded other projects related to TB control in Russia, Belarus, Moldova and Ukraine for a total of about 8 million.

In Community research policy under the fifth framework programme, Research for development is a priority area in international cooperation, and Infectious diseases is a key action that supports major projects on TB vaccine and drug development, as well as on epidemiology and diagnosis.

These Community actions, which complement initiatives undertaken by national authorities and international organisations, indicate a real commitment to fight tuberculosis throughout the world.

(1) Decision No 2119/98/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 24.9.1998 (OJ L 268, 3.10.1998).

(2) Decision No 647/96/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 29.3.1996 (OJ L 95, 16.4.1996).

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