The 11th meeting of the WHO Strategic and Technical Advisory Group (STAG) for neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) took place on 26–27 April 2018 at WHO HQ in Geneva, Switzerland.
Discussions focused on aligning NTDs with universal health coverage (UHC) at country level by measuring and evaluating the impact of control, prevention and elimination programmes on health systems. A closer collaboration is required within WHO and with other United Nations agencies, developmental organizations and partners to help countries implement measures towards universal health coverage (UHC).
The meeting considered the progress of and challenges to implementation of the NTD Roadmap and recommended a consultative process to set new targets and milestones for the period beyond 2020. It also reviewed a request to include scorpion sting envenoming as an additional NTD.
STAG’s main recommendations are summarized (below link) and a full report will be made available soon.
A systematic technically driven process for the adoption of additional diseases as NTDs
In January 2016, the 138th session of the WHO Executive Board requested the Strategic and Technical Advisory Group (STAG) for Neglected Tropical Diseases to develop a 'systematic, technically driven process for the adoption of additional diseases as NTDs.'
The proposed criteria for classifying a condition as an NTD and the process for review of the list of NTDs can be accessed here.
The STAG is the principal advisory group to WHO for the control of NTDs and reports directly to the Director-General of WHO. Its mandate is to advise WHO on overall global policies and strategies, ranging from monitoring of implementation to delivery and linkages with other health interventions. Its remit is to facilitate and monitor the coverage of control interventions and to provide WHO with high-quality, well considered advice and recommendations on matters described in its terms of reference.