Abstract

In countries in the WHO European region, where rates of drug-resistant tuberculosis are the highest of all WHO regions, we looked into access to genotypic and phenotypic Mycobacterium tuberculosis drug susceptibility testing,the availability of antituberculosis drugs, and the cost of drugs and treatment regimens. Results were divided into groups based on low- and high-income nations.

43 treatment facilities overall, representing 43 nations, took part in the study. The percentage of nations offering phenotypic drug susceptibility testing for WHO group A medications was as follows (a) 75% (30/40) for levofloxacin,(b) 82% (33/40) for moxifloxacin, (c) 48% (19/40) for bedaquiline, and (d) 72% (29/40) for linezolid. Overall, 36 (84%) of the 43 nations had access to bedaquiline, while 24 (56%) had access to delamanid, and just 6 (14%) had access to rifapentine [1-5]. Many drug-resistant TB patients receiving a treatment plan that includes Only 17 (40%) of the 43 countries have access to a carbapenem. In middle-income countries (n = 12), the median cost of regimens for drugsusceptible tuberculosis, multidrug-resistant/rifampicin-resistant tuberculosis (shorter regimen, including bedaquiline for 6 months), and extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (including bedaquiline, delamanid, and a carbapenem) was €44 (minimum-maximum, €15-152).