Every year in the world, around 8 million persons get ill from tuberculosis and around two million die. Developing countries account for more than 90 % of the cases.

World Health Organization declared tuberculosis as a global health problem, emphasizing the following reasons:

  • Poverty and increasing gap between the rich and the poor in the world
  • Insufficient activities on detection of the disease and weaknesses in diagnostics and treatment
  • Collapse of health infrastructure in countries suffering from grave economic crises
  • AIDS infection influence.

In spite of many problems, control of tuberculosis incidence is possible. WHO defined the DOTS (Directly Observed Therapy – short regimen) strategy as an organizational framework for a worldwide tuberculosis control, based on five fundamental principles:

  • Political commitment with increased and sustained financing;
  • Case detection through quality-assured bacteriology;
  • Standardized treatment with supervision and patient support;
  • An effective drug supply and management system;
  • Monitoring and evaluation system, and impact measurement.

Basic objectives of the global program of tuberculosis control are the following:

  • Detection of at least 70% cases of carriers;
  • Restoration to health of at least 85% tuberculosis patients,

The final objectives being:

  • Reduction in tuberculosis mortality;
  • Reduction in morbidity and transmission of the disease;
  • Prevention of development of resistance to the first-line anti-TB drugs.

The Ministry of Health of the Republic of Serbia recognized tuberculosis as a priority and formed National TB Commission that defined and drew up national program for fight against Tuberculosis. "The Global Fund to Fight against AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria" granted to the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Serbia funds for the project “Control of Tuberculosis in Serbia through the Implementation of DOTS Strategy and Outreach Services”. The Project will last five years, from December 1st, 2004 to November 30th, 2009. During that time a decrease in incidence from 36.8 to 25 per 100.000 people should be achieved through full implementation of DOTS strategy.