The point of view of a low prevalence country: The Netherlands

Abstract

The elimination of tuberculosis in the Netherlands is not envisaged before 2025. The evidence presented in this paper suggests that the elimination phase asks for a revision of existing control strategies. In the Netherlands a new role is identified for a voluntary tuberculosis organisation like the Royal Netherlands Tuberculosis Association (KNCV) in the areas of expert consultation, surveillance, post-graduate education and consensus and protocol development. A major challenge for a low prevalence country is the existence of high prevalence countries; KNCV's contribution to the success of the Mutual Assistance Programme of the IUATLD in Tanzania, Malawi, Benin, Kenya and Mali is discussed. A major role is identified for the IUATLD and voluntary organisations like KNCV in WHO's new global programme against tuberculosis. The involvement of a Dutch voluntary organisation, the Medical Committee The Netherlands-Vietnam (MCNV) in support of the national tuberculosis programme in Vietnam illustrates this development.