WHO and MSF partner to strengthen tuberculosis and HIV service delivery in Eastern Europe and Central Asia
The World Health Organization's European office and Médecins Sans Frontières announced a partnership to enhance tuberculosis and HIV care across Eastern Europe and Central Asia. The collaboration combines WHO's technical guidance with MSF's clinical delivery experience to address gaps in diagnosis, treatment continuity, and coordination between TB and HIV services in health systems under strain. The initiative aims to improve patient outcomes by streamlining care pathways for individuals requiring services for both diseases.
Tuberculosis and HIV represent interconnected health threats across Eastern Europe and Central Asia, where diagnostic delays and fragmented service systems create barriers to effective treatment. People living with HIV are at substantially elevated risk of developing active TB, yet many regional health systems lack coordinated mechanisms to ensure patients can access both disease programs seamlessly. The strain on these systems has resulted in treatment interruptions and missed opportunities for early detection.
The WHO/Europe and MSF partnership seeks to bridge this gap by combining policy-level technical expertise with hands-on clinical delivery capability. MSF's experience operating in resource-constrained and conflict-affected environments brings practical knowledge of how to maintain care continuity and support patient adherence. By aligning these two organizational strengths, the collaboration aims to establish more robust referral pathways and standardized care approaches across the region's health infrastructure.
The partnership could yield measurable improvements in treatment completion rates and diagnostic timeliness for patients requiring dual TB and HIV services. Health systems that strengthen coordination between disease programs may experience reduced hospitalizations and better long-term health outcomes. Additionally, the initiative may generate transferable models and evidence that other regions or organizations could adapt. The work could also support local health workforce capacity, potentially creating sustainable improvements beyond the partnership's direct operational involvement.