Action towards Universal Health Coverage and Social Protection for Tuberculosis Care and Prevention: Workshop on the End TB Strategy Pillar 2 in the Western Pacific Region 2017.

Kyung Hyun Oh ,Kerri Viney,Hui Zhang,Soth Bounmala,Hansel Amoguis,Ronald Paguirigan,Enkhtamir Purevdorj,Vu Xuan Phu,Nobuyuki Nishikiori,Maytry Senchanthixay,Ulzii-Orshikh Khaltar,Chanly Nou,Ge Zhu,Olivia Biermann,Kalpeshsinh Rahevar,Samoeun Kim,Hong-Jo Choi ,Cheng Xu ,Hee Jin Kim ,Dang Xuan Khang

doi:10.3390/tropicalmed4010003

Abstract

Although the End TB Strategy highlights that major global progress towards universal health coverage (UHC) and social protection are fundamental to achieving the global targets for reductions in tuberculosis (TB) incidence and deaths, there is still a long way to go to achieve them in low- and middle-income countries. A workshop on the End TB Strategy Pillar 2 in the Western Pacific Region focusing on action towards UHC and social protection was held between 27 and 29 November in 2017 at the Korean Institute of Tuberculosis in Cheonju, Republic of Korea. The workshop brought together key personnel from national TB programmes and other stakeholders or researchers with experience in this topic from six countries with a high burden of TB in the region. During the workshop, participants shared country experiences, best practices, and challenges in achieving UHC and enhancing social protection in the context of TB service delivery, and also explored policy options to address the challenges, to be applied in their respective countries. This report describes the content of the meeting and the conclusions and recommendations arising from the meeting.

Highlights

Tuberculosis (TB) remains a major global health challenge, among the poorest sections of society in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs)
The End TB Strategy developed by the World Health Organization (WHO) acknowledges that poor access to health care and inadequate financial risk protection are major obstacles to ending the global TB epidemic [2]
The strategy highlights that major global progress towards universal health coverage (UHC) and social protection by 2025 are fundamental to achieving the global targets to reduce the TB incidence rate by 90% and the number of TB deaths by 95% by 2035 compared with 2015 [3]

Summary

Introduction

Tuberculosis (TB) remains a major global health challenge, among the poorest sections of society in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The strategy highlights that major global progress towards universal health coverage (UHC) and social protection by 2025 are fundamental to achieving the global targets to reduce the TB incidence rate by 90% and the number of TB deaths by 95% by 2035 compared with 2015 [3]. The workshop brought together key personnel from national TB programmes (NTPs) and other stakeholders or researchers with experience in this topic from six countries with a high burden of TB in the Region: Which are Cambodia, China, Lao People’s Democratic Republic (PDR), Mongolia, the Philippines, and Viet Nam. The workshop encompassed country progress reports, parallel group discussions, country action plans on UHC, and social protection as well as the results of TB patient cost surveys in some countries. Many countries have a high level of dependence on external funding and poor access to health care and social protection schemes among marginalised populations in relation to challenges in UHC and social protection

Patient Cost Surveys and Policy Implications

Interventions to Address Patient Catastrophic Costs

Findings

Conclusions and Recommendations