What Constitutes an Effective and Efficient Package of Services for the Prevention, Diagnosis, Treatment and Care of Tuberculosis Among Refugees

The report identified relevant documents through an evidence review of the peer-reviewed and grey literature in English and Russian, including websites of relevant national and international organizations and ministries of health across the WHO European Region. Publications reporting data on packages of care for TB in refugees and migrants were included and relevant data extracted and synthesized using a narrative approach to identify approaches being implemented across the Region. Efforts were made to capture relevant data from eastern Europe and the Russian Federation, in addition to western Europe. Although the main focus was on active TB, consideration was also given to latent TB (LTBI), drug-resistant TB and TB/HIV in migrant populations.

There were significant variations identified across the Region in terms of levels of migration and burden of TB in refugees and migrants, as well as in approaches to the prevention, detection and treatment of TB, with low quality of evidence in most cases. However, the data highlighted some features that might guide policy-making and service development in this area.

Because of the diversity of settings across the WHO European Region, it is unlikely that a single harmonized approach to management of TB among migrants will be effective or efficient. However, some policy options can be derived from the analysis for consideration.