Health-EU Newsletter 222 - Focus

HIV, viral hepatitis and tuberculosis: 2030 goals reachable if we stay the course

Director of Public Health at the Commission's Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety John F. Ryan discusses sustainable development goals on HIV/AIDS, viral hepatitis and tuberculosis and the Commission's work toward meeting them as reflected in the Staff Working Document published this summer.

What are the goals for 2030 and the chances of reaching them?

The sustainable development goals set by the WHO and endorsed by the Commission include ending the AIDS and tuberculosis epidemic by 2030 and continuing to fight hepatitis. We're optimistic because we are not alone - all EU Member States have committed to meeting these goals and we are building on years of experience and much success.

Why does the Commission's work regarding HIV/AIDS, viral hepatitis and tuberculosis include other areas besides strictly public health?

Indeed, the EU also supports research, drugs policy, development cooperation, accession and neighbourhood policy and European structural funds too in its fight against communicable disease. This approach is appropriate as there are multiple factors that influence our health and efforts by just one sector cannot tackle the problem efficiently. For example, growing resistance to antimicrobial therapies greatly increases treatment costs and the risk of death or serious complications in people suffering from HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and hepatitis. Drug-resistant microbes can be transmitted between animals and humans through direct contact or through contaminated food, so to effectively contain it, a well-coordinated approach is crucial.

What have been the major accomplishments of the Commission's work in this area?

The Union's strong commitment to tackle these three epidemics has been well reflected in the Staff Working Document published this summer. We can be proud of funding research and developing and implementing good practices that have helped to save countless lives.

Through Horizon 2020, the EU framework programme for research and development, the Commission helps fund the development of better vaccines, drugs and diagnostic tools. Additionally, many projects in this field are funded through the EU Health Programme. Some 12 million Euros in funding is helping eight projects in their work to make sure that vulnerable groups have access to early diagnosis and prevention and care, for example.

The overall EU health budget in the 2014-2020 financial framework is about EUR 2.6 billion, some of which goes into strengthening health systems, helping to ensure there is an adequate number of qualified health workers and that medicines are both affordable and available.

In addition, the EU gives generously to the Global Fund to fight HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, and in fact, provides about 50% of its total and sizeable resources.

Why does the Commission look at HIV/AIDS together with viral hepatitis and tuberculosis?

Data shows that the same people – often socially marginalised populations - are at high risk of contracting these diseases. Coinfection with HIV and viral hepatitis affects up to 15% of people living with HIV worldwide and up to 90% of those are people who inject drugs. People living with HIV are 16-27 times more likely to develop TB than others.

What work still needs to be done?

We need to make the best use of the information and resources we already have, and to continue to support the development of new practices and tools. And we need to tackle another serious issue correlated to these illnesses – social stigma. The fear of stigmatisation can make people afraid of being tested, of seeking treatment and of talking to others. It leads, in fact, to isolation, which can be as difficult to deal with and as dangerous as many diseases.

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