Kutse

UN City, Marmorvej 51 Tel.: +45 45 33 70 00 Email: [email protected] DK-2100 Copenhagen Ø Denmark

Fax: +45 45 33 70 01 Website: https://www.who.int/europe

WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION ORGANISATION MONDIALE DE LA SANTÉ

WELTGESUNDHEITSORGANISATION ВСЕМИРНАЯ ОРГАНИЗАЦИЯ ЗДРАВООХРАНЕНИЯ

Date: 25 November 2024

Ms Anniki Lai Deputy Secretary General on Health Ministry of Social Affairs Suur-Ameerika 1 10122 Tallinn Estonia

REGIONAL OFFICE FOR EUROPE BUREAU RÉGIONAL DE L’EUROPE

REGIONALBÜRO FÜR EUROPA ЕВРОПЕЙСКОЕ РЕГИОНАЛЬНОЕ БЮРО

Head office: UN City, Marmorvej 51,

DK-2100 Copenhagen Ø, Denmark Tel.: +45 45 33 70 00; Fax: +45 45 33 70 01

Email: [email protected] Website: https://www.who.int/europe

Dear Ms Lai,

Invitation to Second Regional Meeting on Improving Access and Availability of Medicines for TB and DR-TB in Europe, 28-29 January 2025, Copenhagen, Denmark

Over recent years, many EU Member States have reported increasing challenges in securing essential medicines for TB and DR-TB treatment regimens. In response, the WHO Regional Office for Europe (WHO EURO) has launched a comprehensive survey to assess and address the challenges of accessing TB and DR-TB medicines across Western Europe. This survey, distributed on 8 November, was sent to 30 Member States, including the EU, the United Kingdom, Norway, and Switzerland, targeting the designated national TB focal point and colleagues previously involved in discussions on TB medicine access.

We kindly request your support in ensuring that relevant national entities are aware of and contribute to completing the survey. Responses will require coordination across your country to provide a collective input.

The survey results will inform strategies to strengthen procurement mechanisms and foster a coordinated regional approach. Findings will be presented at the Second Regional Meeting on Improving Access and Availability of Medicines for TB and DR-TB in Europe, to be held on 28-29 January 2025 at WHO Regional Office for Europe, UN City, 51 Marmorvej, Copenhagen, Denmark.

We are pleased to invite you to this meeting and kindly ask you to nominate representatives from the national drug regulatory authority, as well as officers responsible for coordinating procurement and supply management of TB medicines, to join the meeting. WHO strongly encourages in-person attendance; however, remote participation will also be available to expand accessibility.

Please note that while WHO will provide lunches and refreshments, travel and accommodation expenses cannot be covered.

For planning purposes, we ask that you submit nominations by 17 December 2024 to [email protected] and Dr. Askar Yedilbayev, Regional TB Adviser, at [email protected].

We hope you will find this opportunity valuable and look forward to welcoming you to Copenhagen

Yours sincerely,

Mr Robb Butler Director, Division of Communicable Diseases, Environment and Health

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Copy for information to:

Ms Helen Sõber, Adviser, European Union Affairs and International Co-operation Department, Ministry of Social Affairs, Suur-Ameerika 1, 10122 Tallinn, Estonia Ms Triin Uusberg Head European Union Affairs and International Co-operation Department Ministry of Social Affairs Suur-Ameerika 1 Tallinn 10129 Estonia . Ms Riia Salsa-Audiffren Ambassador Representative of the Republic of Estonia Permanent Mission of the Republic of Estonia to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva Chemin du Petit-Saconnex 28A Genève CH-1209 Switzerland H.E. Mr Andre Pung Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Embassy of the Republic of Estonia Frederiksgade 19, 4th floor Copenhagen K 1265Denmark Ms Kristina Köhler, Liaison Officer, WHO Country Office, Estonia, Paldiski Road 81, 10617 Tallinn, Estonia