MDR-TB Treatment & Prevention

Call for nomination of Members for the WHO/Europe Task Force on the Role of Surgery in MDR-TB and extrapulmonary TB

Started by Masoud Dara, MD on 01 Dec 2011

Dear colleagues, although this is rather related to those of us working in the WHO European Region, in case other colleagues would be interested or know of an expert from other Regions who could be involved in our Task Force, please let me know. We are thinking of a small Task Force of about 15 experts maximum. We have circulated this to targeted experts in our Region a month ago, but appreciate the views and suggestions of the community as well.
Thanks, Masoud

Preamble:

The role of surgery in management of pulmonary Multidrug resistant TB (MDR-TB) and extra-pulmonary TB is not fully examined and practices across the Region vary from one country to another. The Regional Consolidated Action Plan to Prevent and Combat M/XDR-TB endorsed at the 61st Regional Committee in Baku September 2011, foresees under the activity 3.4.2 “The Regional Office in collaboration with the Member States and other partners will develop a set of evidence-based criteria for surgery for M/XDR-TB patients by the end of 2012.”

There is need to review the existing practices and lessons learned and share them across the Region and beyond.

Objectives and scope of work:

Under a WHO/Europe Special Regional Director’s Project, the Task force on the role of the Surgery in TB will:

1. Document the evidence of the role of surgery in pulmonary TB/MDR-TB and extra-pulmonary TB case management

2. Prepare a consensus paper on indications and contraindications of different surgical procedures for pulmonary MDR-TB and extra-pulmonary TB treatment with particular attention to the prerequisites including infection control and post operating care

3. Develop the capacity of a pool of consultants/center of excellences to provide technical assistance to the Member States to improve rational and safe approach to surgery for MDR- TB patients

4. To promote research on surgical aspects of TB treatment


Expected output:

1. The Regional Consensus Paper on the role of Surgery in MDR-TB and extra-pulmonary TB

2. A pool of consultants and nominated center of excellences for surgery on TB/MDR-TB in the WHO European Region

Membership:

The members of Task Force will be selected based on their expertise in clinical and surgical aspects of TB treatment and their geographic distribution from WHO European Region. The members do not represent any institutions or Member States. The Task Force members will elect a chair. Any change in the membership shall be approved by the Chair of Task Force in consultation with WHO/Europe. The work of the Task Force is pro-bono and no remuneration (fee or allowance) is foreseen to prevent any potential conflict of interest. Members will be required to declare any Conflict of Interest in a written form which will be shared with them.


Modus Operandi
Taskforce members are expected to spend around 6 hours per month on average on the aforementioned tasks and review and contribute to the work.

Most discussions will be done via e-mail and Skype and/or telephone conference calls. One day face-to face meeting is foreseen in 2nd to 3rd quarter 2012. Travel (within the Region) and perdiem of participants of the Task Force meeting will be covered by WHO/Europe or its assigned supplier.

Secretariat:
The secretariat of the Task Force will be with WHO/Europe.
 
Language:
Working language will be English and Russian through consecutive translation

Timeline:
The Task Force will have a life time of one year starting 1 December 2011 to 1 December 2012. A detailed timetable including the consultation process with the key stakeholders and Member States will be prepared by the Task Force.


Contact Person:
In case of interest, please send a short motivation letter with a summary CV to
Dr Masoud Dara WHO/Europe TB and M/XDR-TB Programme Manager