These diagnostic tests on WHO's list improves diagnosis

Kolkata: Today, many people are unable to get tested for diseases because they cannot access diagnostic services.Many are incorrectly diagnosed. As a result, they do not receive the treatment they need and, in some cases, may actually receive the wrong treatment.

For example, an estimated 46 per cent of adults with Type 2 diabetes worldwide are undiagnosed, risking serious health complications and higher health costs. Late diagnosis of infectious diseases such as HIV and tuberculosis increases the risk of spread and makes them more difficult to treat.

To address this gap, the World Health Organization (WHO) on Tuesday published its first Essential Diagnostics List, a catalogue of the tests needed to diagnose the most common conditions as well as a number of global priority diseases.

"An accurate diagnosis is the first step to getting effective treatment," says Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. "No one should suffer or die because of a lack of diagnostic services, or because the right tests were not available."

The list concentrates on in vitro tests - i.e. tests of human specimens like blood and urine. It contains 113 products: 58 tests are listed for detection and diagnosis of a wide range of common conditions, providing an essential package that can form the basis for screening and management of patients. 

The remaining 55 tests are designed for the detection, diagnosis and monitoring of "priority" diseases such as HIV, tuberculosis, malaria, hepatitis B and C, human papillomavirus and syphilis. 

Some of the tests are particularly suitable for primary health care facilities, where laboratory services are often poorly resourced and sometimes non-existent; for example, tests that can rapidly diagnose a child for acute malaria or glucometers to test diabetes.  These tests do not require electricity or trained personnel.  Other tests are more sophisticated and therefore intended for larger medical facilities.

"Our aim is to provide a tool that can be useful to all countries, to test and treat better, but also to use health funds more efficiently by concentrating on the truly essential tests," says Mariangela Simao, WHO Assistant Director-General for Access to Medicines, Vaccines and Pharmaceuticals. "Our other goal is to signal to countries and developers that the tests in the list must be of good quality, safe and affordable." (UNI)