Jane Elllison MP

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Public Health

Department for Health

Richmond House

79 Whitehall

London SW1A 2NS

Ref: ML.N0016.CM.21.03.14

Date: 21^st March 2014

Dear Jane,

March 24^th is World TB Day, an important opportunity to draw attention to the global tuberculosis (TB) pandemic.  As I am sure you know, TB is a huge problem around the world and is still a major public health threat in the UK. 

TB has killed more people than any other infectious disease in history and still kills 1.3 million people worldwide every single year. Parts of the UK have rates to match those found in some of the worst affected countries in the world, and London has the highest rates of any capital city in Western Europe.

The only way that we’re going to beat the disease is if we have coordinated, global action.

That’s why I’ve joined 130 elected representatives from the G7 and EU, including members of the House of Commons and House of Lords, in calling for coordinated global action to drive down rates of tuberculosis (TB) across the world and to accelerate progress towards ending TB as a threat to global public health. [1]

TB is an ancient disease, but it’s perfectly adapted to the modern world. It evolves resistance to drugs very quickly; it’s airborne so can take advantage of global travel and business to spread extremely quickly; and it’s difficult to diagnose – even with the best of modern technology.

Diagnosing and treating TB can be extremely challenging. Most diagnosis is carried out under a microscope and can take several weeks to get a positive result, whilst there have been no new TB drugs for over four decades.

As you’ll be aware, TB can be treated and cured but the drugs are toxic and extremely unpleasant. It’s unthinkable that in the 21st century, patients have to take drugs that could leave them permanently disabled. Moreover, as with so many other preventable diseases, it strikes hardest at the poorest and most marginalised in our societies, exacerbating existing rates of poverty and ill-health.

At the current rate of progress, TB will remain a serious threat to global public health until the end of the next century.  That pace of change is simply not good enough.

We urgently need investment in scaling up existing interventions; increasing the development of new drugs, diagnostics and vaccines; investing in innovative projects; and implementing programmes to diagnose and treat everyone who has TB. 

Please would you assure me of the UK’s commitment to eradicating TB both in the UK and elsewhere in the world, and let me know what your Department is doing to ensure we fulfil the ambitious goal of being the generation that turns the tide against this devastating disease.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours sincerely,