Conflict and drug-resistant tuberculosis in Ukraine

The UN released a report on Aug 29 about the worsening situation for human rights in the conflict region of Ukraine (1). An average of 36 people are killed every day and at least 260 000 people have been displaced from this region (1). Ed Holt in The Lancet (Aug 30, p 735) (2) reported about the threat to medical staff, equipment, and essential drugs, including for tuberculosis. Ukraine is one of the 27 countries in the world with a high burden of multidrug-resistant (MDR) tuberculosis and in 2012, there were an estimated 6800 new cases in the country (3).In view of the large number of people displaced, the control of tuberculosis and MDR-tuberculosis in Ukraine and surrounding countries will not only depend on the provision of medicines and health-care services in the conflict zone, but also on effective measures for detection and care of internally displaced people (IDP) and refugees.