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U.S. Code as of:
01/19/04
Section 2151b-3. Assistance to combat tuberculosis
(a) Findings
Congress makes the following findings:
(1) Congress recognizes the growing international problem of
tuberculosis and the impact its continued existence has on those
countries that had previously largely controlled the disease.
(2) Congress further recognizes that the means exist to control
and treat tuberculosis through expanded use of the DOTS (Directly
Observed Treatment Short-course) treatment strategy, including
DOTS-Plus to address multi-drug resistant tuberculosis, and
adequate investment in newly created mechanisms to increase
access to treatment, including the Global Tuberculosis Drug
Facility established in 2001 pursuant to the Amsterdam
Declaration to Stop TB and the Global Alliance for TB Drug
Development.
(b) Policy
It is a major objective of the foreign assistance program of the
United States to control tuberculosis, including the detection of
at least 70 percent of the cases of infectious tuberculosis, and
the cure of at least 85 percent of the cases detected, not later
than December 31, 2005, in those countries classified by the World
Health Organization as among the highest tuberculosis burden, and
not later than December 31, 2010, in all countries in which the
United States Agency for International Development has established
development programs.
(c) Authorization
To carry out this section and consistent with section 2151b(c) of
this title, the President is authorized to furnish assistance, on
such terms and conditions as the President may determine, for the
prevention, treatment, control, and elimination of tuberculosis.
(d) Coordination
In carrying out this section, the President shall coordinate with
the World Health Organization, the Global Fund to Fight AIDS,
Tuberculosis, and Malaria, and other organizations with respect to
the development and implementation of a comprehensive tuberculosis
control program.
(e) Priority to DOTS coverage
In furnishing assistance under subsection (c) of this section,
the President shall give priority to activities that increase
Directly Observed Treatment Short-course (DOTS) coverage and
treatment of multi-drug resistant tuberculosis where needed using
DOTS-Plus, including funding for the Global Tuberculosis Drug
Facility, the Stop Tuberculosis Partnership, and the Global
Alliance for TB Drug Development. In order to meet the requirement
of the preceding sentence, the President should ensure that not
less than 75 percent of the amount made available to carry out this
section for a fiscal year should be expended for antituberculosis
drugs, supplies, direct patient services, and training in diagnosis
and treatment for Directly Observed Treatment Short-course (DOTS)
coverage and treatment of multi-drug resistant tuberculosis using
DOTS-Plus, including substantially increased funding for the Global
Tuberculosis Drug Facility.
(f) Definitions
In this section:
(1) DOTS
The term "DOTS" or "Directly Observed Treatment Short-course"
means the World Health Organization-recommended strategy for
treating tuberculosis.
(2) DOTS-Plus
The term "DOTS-Plus" means a comprehensive tuberculosis
management strategy that is built upon and works as a supplement
to the standard DOTS strategy, and which takes into account
specific issues (such as use of second line anti-tuberculosis
drugs) that need to be addressed in areas where there is high
prevalence of multi-drug resistant tuberculosis.
(3) Global Alliance for Tuberculosis Drug Development
The term "Global Alliance for Tuberculosis Drug Development"
means the public-private partnership that brings together leaders
in health, science, philanthropy, and private industry to devise
new approaches to tuberculosis and to ensure that new medications
are available and affordable in high tuberculosis burden
countries and other affected countries.
(4) Global Tuberculosis Drug Facility
The term "Global Tuberculosis Drug Facility (GDF)" means the
new initiative of the Stop Tuberculosis Partnership to increase
access to high-quality tuberculosis drugs to facilitate DOTS
expansion.
(5) Stop Tuberculosis Partnership
The term "Stop Tuberculosis Partnership" means the partnership
of the World Health Organization, donors including the United
States, high tuberculosis burden countries, multilateral
agencies, and nongovernmental and technical agencies committed to
short- and long-term measures required to control and eventually
eliminate tuberculosis as a public health problem in the world.
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