Abstract
Worldwide, tuberculosis is one of the top 10 causes of death. Although most EU/EEA countries are low-incidence, TB remains a public health issue. In this region, TB predominantly affects vulnerable populations, including migrants (ECDC/WHO, 2019). Since migration has been increasing over the last several decades, the health needs are considerable and merit great attention for several reasons. First, migrants have a right to health. Second, health promotion and disease prevention among migrants contributes to overall public health. Last, healthy migrants contribute to positive development outcomes (WHO, 2016) (IOM, 2017).
In order to meet the health needs of migrants, prevention is an important step. Part of preventive care is detecting illness at an early stage (for example by screening), so that treatment can be introduced when it works best (WHO Europe, 2018). However, screening of a population is only beneficial if a positive result leads to effective actions independent of geographic location (Jackson, 2017).
So, how does one facilitate a fluid care pathway for TB-elimination? In the Netherlands, the Community Health Services (GGDs) carry out TB-control non-geographically. All 25 GGDs use iTBC, a nationwide, integrated platform that supports and connects all TB processes, independent of place and time. The appropriate TB screening pathway is selected, based on prevalence in country of birth, for all migrants resulting in optimized screening, treatment and control. In a PPP between Topicus, the Dutch Association of GGDs (GGD GHOR Nederland) and the Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers, this process has been automated for asylum seekers. By safely sharing relevant data, migrants can be screened and treated effectively. Resulting in health needs of migrants being met and optimum control of TB in low-incidence countries. The aim is to screen, treat, control and end tuberculosis whilst scaling the Dutch blueprint across the EU/EEA region.
Key messages
TB-screening contributes to EU public health if follow-up actions are facilitated non-geographically. The Dutch blueprint for TB-control shows how migrant health needs are met in an interconnected world.