Experts come together to discuss the role of technology in TB and tobacco control

Representatives of the World Health Organization (WHO), the European Respiratory Society (ERS) and other important organisations met in Geneva, Switzerland last week (25–26 February) to discuss how electronic and mobile devices could be used to monitor and support people with tuberculosis (TB) that smoke tobacco.

Both TB and tobacco are major global public health concerns. Evidence has also shown a strong link between TB and smoking, with smoking affecting the likelihood of infection, response to treatments, as well as rates of relapse and survival.

The meeting, organised by the WHO Global TB Programme and ERS, discussed how to harness the potential of electronic and mobile technology. In particular representatives at the meeting looked at how existing initiatives taking place in different countries can be scaled up to help fight this major public health challenge.   

The outcomes of these discussions will be used in the development of new tools in the future.

Read the original news article.