WHO applauds the launch of Thailand's First National Tuberculosis Research Roadmap
Geneva, 30 August 2017 – Recognizing the need for innovative tools and strategies to bolster the country’s response to end TB, Thailand’s national TB research network (ThaiTurn) has just launched the country’s first national TB research roadmap. The roadmap includes research priorities targeted at addressing health systems challenges, as well as the prevention and treatment of multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB).
“This roadmap is a vital blueprint for invigorating
efforts to end TB in Thailand,” said H.E. Minister of
Public Health, Professor Piyasakol Sakolsatayadorn. "Leveraging
this prioritized research strategy, with all stakeholders
engaged, is expected to produce strategic innovations for
patient-centred TB prevention and care, bringing us one step
closer to provide a promising solution for ending TB in
Thailand”.
The national research roadmap
includes a list of 33 questions classified in a priority order
across the respective areas of biomedical, epidemiological,
health systems, implementation and multidisciplinary research.
Dr. Christian Lienhardt, Team leader, Research for TB
Elimination at the Global TB Programme who supported the process
added “The end TB targets will not be achieved
without research and innovation, Thailand is taking an important
step by placing research at the center of its efforts to
combat TB”.
Thailand is among the top 30
countries in the world that carry the highest burden of TB,
TB/HIV co infection and MDR-TB.
For more information on WHO’s support of
countries developing and implementing national TB research
plans, please access: http://www.who.int/tb/publications/TB_research_toolkit/en/
Source:
WHO
