Pakistan offers a paradigm shift to provide citizens a full package of TB care
A high burden country providing a superior level of care to its people
24 July 2017, Geneva, Switzerland - The Stop TB Partnership congratulates the Pakistan Ministry of Health, National TB Programme, Provincial TB Programmes, and partners for demonstrating how to deliver higher standards of TB care in high TB burden settings in order to rapidly reduce suffering and TB deaths.
The TB response in Pakistan builds on the existing program to
include a comprehensive set of epidemic control strategies of,
“search, treat, and prevent,” that follow
international recommendations and use the most effective tools
and knowledge available. These include systematic screening with
mobile digital X-rays and new diagnostic tests, new TB drugs and
regimens for treatment of drug-resistant disease, and expanding
treatment of TB infection.
It is commendable that
the Pakistan Programme offers people affected by TB and their
families, not only diagnosis and treatment of the TB disease,
but also the treatment of TB infection, to the same standard of
care available in Europe and North America.
It is
impossible to end TB without reaching more people with TB
infection and treating them, thus, preventing development of the
disease. The End TB Strategy and the Global Plan to End TB have
specific and bold goals for treating people with TB infection in
high-risk groups, including household contacts.
There is a clear global consensus that ending the TB
epidemic will require a change in mentality, approach and
efforts. Pakistan is taking a strong step in this direction with
expanded efforts to reach more of the people who are at risk of
developing TB, moving beyond the business as usual approach.
Dr. Lucica Ditiu, Executive Director of the Stop TB
Partnership noted, "We hope that these efforts will be taken to
scale and sustained to achieve the desired impact, and we will
be available to support the country programme as needed."
To end TB all people must receive the highest
standard of care available and Pakistan serves as an example of
a high burden country providing a superior level of care to its
people.
Source:
Stop TB Partnership
