Major differences in organisation and availability of health care and medicines for HIV/TB coinfected patients across Europe. HIV Medicine
Mansfeld et al. on behalf of EuroCoord investigated the organization of and access to HIV/tuberculosis (TB) health care between treatment centres in Eastern (EE) and Western Europe (WE). Compared with WE, treatment of HIV and TB in EE are significantly less often located at the same site and less often provided by the same doctors, whereas regular screening of HIV-infected patients for TB and directly observed treatment were more common in EE. The reported availability of rifabutin and second- and third-line TB drugs was lower, and opioid substitution therapy was available at fewer centres in EE compared with WE.
The findings from this study emphasize the need for an increased focus on patient-centred care and integration across specialities. Linking regional differences of HIV/TB health care to treatment outcomes is crucial for future care.