On February 21, TBEC
Executive Director Yuliia Kalancha participated in a roundtable held at the
European Parliament to discuss possible EU commitments to achieve UNAIDS goals
by 2030.
The event was conducted within the Chatham House Rule
encouraging inclusive and open dialogue between the participants to
develop the recommendation.
Yuliia Kalancha drew participants' attention to the importance of considering
the TB issue when planning responses to the HIV/AIDS epidemic. "Addressing
the challenges of drug-resistant TB care in the EU, we face a distressing
reality where patients are stuck with outdated treatments due to regulatory,
administrative, and financial barriers. Existing affordable fix-dose
combinations, pediatric formulations and key preventive
medicine are not available in Europe, mainly due to regulatory
barriers and lack of incentives for the manufacturers. This mirrors
obstacles in our fight against HIV, emphasizing the need for regulatory
flexibility in European pharmaceutical legislation that allow patients access
to essential medicines, a responsibility shared by EU member states, the
Commission, the EMA, and the European Parliament."- noted the TBEC Executive Director based on broad consultations
with Médecins Sans Frontières colleagues.
Also, Yuliia informed attendees that the war against Ukraine and
the resulting crisis for the EU highlighted the need to improve
standards of care for refugees and migrants, many of whom disproportionately
suffer from both TB and HIV. "This situation
has revealed gaps in awareness among medical personnel, stigma, and access to
services, underscoring the need for inclusive health policies that address the
social determinants of health affecting both TB and HIV" - emphasized the speaker based on
information received from colleagues it the Regional Expert Group on Migration
and Health.
