National Tuberculosis Programme in Romania 1997-2000: how it works.

Romania displays one of the highest epidemiological parameters of tuberculosis among European countries: the incidence reached 113.3 per 100,000 in 1998, the prevalence of chronic cases was 18.9 and mortality 11.5 per 100,000 in 1996. A National Tuberculosis Programme aimed at decreasing the present burden of the disease has been elaborated according to the WHO strategy in 1997 and for its implementing. The National Committee on Pneumophtisiology and the Central Unit of the National Institute of Pneumophtisiology were made responsible. Tuberculosis managers and supervisors were nominated in each of the 48 counties and a total of 18,000 family doctors were involved in this programme at the primary health care level. Tuberculosis has been declared the second health priority in Romania and the following budget providers for its effective control were acquired: Ministry of Health, World Bank, Open Society Foundation, Funds of Romania and World Health Organization. The following achievements can be mentioned so far: A technical manual on the National Programme has been published, WHO modules on DOTS strategy were translated into Romanian, a training course on the WHO-DOTS strategy was organized for tuberculosis managers and laboratory chiefs, a pilot project on the WHO-DOTS strategy started in lasi, first control visits in counties and pneumophtisiologists were implemented, training for family doctors was organized and a project for health education with video shots was presented on the national TV channel.