The Stop TB Partnership Announcement - 24 July 2017
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.
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