TB case numbers are increasing alarmingly among people living in a homeless situation. The severity of the problem is indicated by the fact that in 2025, 15% of newly diagnosed active TB patients, while in Budapest, 36% of those affected, were discharged from homeless care. To address the situation, professional consultations have begun with the involvement of ministerial, health and social actors, the focus of which is a new pilot project.
At the professional workshop meetings, leading experts from the National Korányi Pulmonology Institute (OKPI), the Mayor’s Office and the Budapest Methodological Social Center and Institutions (BMSZKI) are jointly looking for effective social and health intervention options. Additional funding sources are currently being sought to launch the planned latent TB screening pilot project, while a rethinking of the capital’s support and assistance processes is also on the agenda.
Social worker helps with patient management
The Hungarian Maltese Charity Service is supporting the initiative with a practical step: it has undertaken to employ a social worker who is specifically responsible for identifying and supporting homeless people with active TB in hospital. During their hospital stay, the patients’ background history will be assessed using questionnaires and life-course interviews.
The greatest challenge is the period after hospital discharge. Although patients are no longer infectious at this time, they must continue their medication. However, in the absence of adequate housing, contact with lung care providers and regular medication intake are often interrupted, which leads to a relapse of the disease.
Education against misconceptions
According to experience, there is a lot of inaccurate information about TB, even among professionals working in the social sphere. Therefore, the new employee’s priority will be to educate social professionals and directly inform homeless people. This will reduce misconceptions and ensure that those affected seek medical help in a timely manner.