International Standards of Tuberculosis Care

eventIn 2011, the Philippines achieved the Millennium Developmental Goals (MDG) for tuberculosis. The Post 2015 Global Strategy Framework for TB aims to achieve the following Goals for 2025 compared to 2015: 75% reduction of deaths from tuberculosis, a 50% reduction of the incidence of tuberculosis and there being no affected families facing catastrophic costs due to tuberculosis.

Amongst the Pillars and Components of the Framework is the engagement of communities, civil society organizations and public and private care providers. The contribution of the private sector in the case finding of tuberculosis with the public-private mix DOTS (PPMD) is a significant 11%.

To achieve the goals for a TB Free Philippines and World, it would be important that the private sector continues to be involved in the fight against tuberculosis.

On April 9, 2015 in an activity sponsored by Pfizer Philippines,   I gave a talk to a group of 35 physicians, mostly Family Physicians, Consultants and some Residents in Tagum, Davao del Norte. This was on the latest International Standards of Tuberculosis Care (ISTC 3rd ed. 2014) and The Manual of Procedures (MOP 5th ed. 2014) of the National Tuberculosis Program (NTP).

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