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Document no:
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SMAC 206/Tuberculosis REV/Apr2017
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Original:
English
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Title:
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Proposed Revision of WMA
Resolution on Tuberculosis
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Destination:
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Constituent Members
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Action(s) required:
For consideration
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Note:
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As part of the annual policy review process, the Council in Buenos
Aires (April 2016) decided that the WMA Resolution on
Tuberculosis should undergo a major revision. The Indian Medical
Association (IMA) volunteered to undertake that work.
At its 204th session in Taipei (October 2016), the
Council decided to circulate the proposed revised document within WMA
membership for comments. The 206th Council session in Livingstone
(April 2017) considered the revised version and decided to circulate it again
within WMA membership for further comments.
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PREAMBLE
1. According to the World Health Organization, tuberculosis is a
significant global public health problem affecting
over 8 million cases every year with 2.2 million infectious cases and over 1.5
million deaths. South East Asian and African countries are most affected.
2. In developing countries, the incidence of tuberculosis has risen
dramatically because of high prevalence of HIV/AIDS, increasing migration of populations,
urbanisation and over-crowding.
3. The emergence of strains of tuberculosis bacteria resistant to
first-line drugs have become a major public health threat in the forms of
multidrug-resistant (MDR) and extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (XDR TB)
due to indiscriminate or inappropriate use, lack of access, poor compliance or
incomplete treatment.
4. MDR tuberculosis is a
significant threat to development and the safety of global health.
5. Community awareness and public health education and promotion are
essential elements of tuberculosis prevention.
6. Screening of high risk groups including PLHIV (people living with HIV)
and vulnerable population including migrants, prisoners and the homeless is
important in tuberculosis prevention.
7. Rapid diagnosis with molecular tests and supervised daily treatment
started at the earliest should help arrest the spread of disease.
8. BCG (Bacille Calmette-Guérin) vaccination as early as possible after
birth should continue until a new more effective vaccine is available.
RECOMMENDATIONS
8. The World
Medical Association, in consultation with WHO and national and international
health authorities and organizations, will continue its work to generate
community awareness about symptoms of TB and increase capacity building of
health care providers in early identification and diagnosis of TB suspects and
ensuring complete treatment utilizing Directly Observed Treatment Short course.
9. The WMA
supports calls for adequate financial, material and human resources for
tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS research and prevention, including adequately trained
health care providers and adequate public health infrastructure, and will
participate with health professionals in providing information on tuberculosis
and its treatment.
Health care professionals should have access to all
required medical and protective equipment to prevent against the risk of
infection and spread of the disease.
10. The WMA encourages
continuing efforts to build up the capacity of health care professionals
about increase in the use of rapid diagnostics methods, their
availability in the public sector and in the management of all forms of TB
including (MDR and XDR).
11. The
WMA calls on its Member National Medical Associations to support their National
TB Programmes by generating awareness among healthcare professionals about
TB management and in the community for early reporting.
12. The WMA calls on its
National Member Associations to propagate methods of TB prevention including
respiratory hygiene, cough etiquettes, and safe sputum disposal.
13. National Member
Associations should encourage all its members to timely notify to relevant
authorities, all patients diagnosed or put on TB treatment for initiation
of contact screening and adequate follow up till the completion of treatment.
14. National Member
Associations should co-ordinate with their TB National Programme and
promulgate the adopted guidelines to all members.
The
WMA supports WHO's efforts and call upon all governments, communities, civil
society and the private sector to act together to end tuberculosis world-wide.
All
should jointly promote collaboration using new innovative approaches to achieve
TB free World and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
