No universal access to drug-resistant tuberculosis care without engaging all health care providers

Abstract

Should the engagement of all health care providers in all aspects of programmatic management of drug-resistant tuberculosis (PMDT) become a priority in the national strategic plans for tuberculosis (TB), progress towards universal access to diagnosis, treatment and care of drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) would accelerate. This would be especially crucial in countries where the private sector is a significant provider of health services. Proven successful interventions to engage all health care providers and partners in the cascade of prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care of DR-TB patients need to be urgently scaled up. Such engagement should not be limited to the diagnosis and treatment of DR-TB, but extended also to all the aspects of PMDT, including approaches ensuring that patient-centred care, social support, pharmacovigilance and surveillance. Integral to the End TB Strategy, PMDT should be embedded in all public-private mix initiatives for TB and vice versa.