TB CAB, TAG open letter to the Global Plan Development Task Force
Re: Programmatic and research targets for the Global Plan to Stop TB, 2016–2020
On May 5, 2015 the Global TB Community Advisory Board (TB CAB) and Treatment Action Group (TAG) sent an open letter to the Global Plan Development Task Force reiterating the urgent need for inclusion of evidence-based and ambitious programmatic and research and development (R&D) funding targets in the Global Plan to Stop TB, 2016–2020.
For the programmatic component of the Global Plan, while supporting the inclusion of targets for “90-90-90” (90% of vulnerable and at-risk populations are screened for TB; 90% of all TB cases are diagnosed and started on treatment; and 90% of those started on treatment have a successful outcome), the letter encourages the inclusion of one more “90”– 90% of those for whom preventive therapy is indicated complete preventive therapy. These four targets, as it is stated in the letter, are necessary to achieve the post-2015 milestones set forth in the World Health Organization’s End TB Strategy. Furthermore, it is stressed that the inclusion of pediatric-specific program intervention costs in the setting-specific investment packages is needed to ensure the inclusion of children in TB programs and budgets in the post-2015 period.
For the research component of the Global Plan, the letter encourages the inclusion of concrete investment targets for each of the following categories: drugs, vaccines, diagnostics, basic research, and operational research. The letter once again urges the Global Plan Development Task Force to develop and include pediatric-specific funding targets for research to close existing gaps for developing tools appropriate for children.
“The Global Plan serves as a call to action on which broader conversations on country program initiatives and R&D funding will be based. The inclusion of evidence-based and ambitious targets in the Global Plan is necessary to ensure that the long-standing neglect of TB programs and research does not continue in the post-2015 period.”
To download the open letter, click here.
