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Report of the sixth meeting of the WHO Diagnostic Technical Advisory Group for Neglected Tropical Diseases: Geneva, Switzerland, 14–15 February 2024

World Health Organization, Control of Neglected Tropical Diseases team, Diagnostics Technical Advisory Group team . 2024;
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Abstract

The World Health Organization’s Global Neglected Tropical Diseases Programme (WHO/NTD) manages a diverse portfolio of 21 diseases and disease groups,1 each with its own unique epidemiology and diagnostic challenges. Programmes to address each of these diseases have different targets as set in the road map for neglected tropical diseases 2021–2030 (“the road map”): control, elimination as a public health problem, elimination of transmission or eradication. These programmatic targets may also change over time as new tools are developed and global attention attracts increased support. Despite the diversity of programmatic goals, common areas exist across technical areas that benefit from a single working group for diagnostics. The Diagnostic Technical Advisory Group for Neglected Tropical Diseases (DTAG) facilitates a unified approach for identifying and prioritizing diagnostic needs, defining new diagnostic test evaluation processes, and informing WHO strategies and guidance on diagnostics.

The first DTAG meeting was held in October 2019 (3), the second in October 2020 (4), the third in June 2021 (5), the fourth in October 2021 (6) and the fifth in November 2022 (7). Several disease-specific and cross-cutting subgroups have facilitated the production of target product profiles (TPPs).

WHO/NTD convened the sixth DTAG meeting on 14–15 February 2024, with the following objectives relating to the end-to-end process of diagnostic development:

  • Consider updates from disease-specific subgroups and TPP production;
  • Discuss progress made by the cross-cutting and resource mobilization subgroups;
  • Discuss the Expert Review Panel for Diagnostics (ERPD) NTD pilot project and lessons learnt;
  • Discuss advocacy and resource mobilization;
  • Discuss engagement of manufacturers and developers;
  • Discuss laboratory capacity strengthening and standardization of molecular methods;
  • Deliberate on the priority/focus areas of engagement for the DTAG for the next 2 years
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Advocacy
Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs)
Health systems factors
Diagnosis
Diagnostic tests