Abstract

This paper reviews the overarching strategies, implementation rigour, achievements, strengths and weaknesses, and challenges and opportunities faced by Pakistan’s National Tuberculosis Control Program (NTP) during the period 2011-2020. NTP’s annual reports, Global Tuberculosis (TB) Report (2019 & 2020), peer-reviewed journal articles, NTP and NSP plans, along with voluminous programmatic data reviewed. Pakistan’s national and provincial tuberculosis control program has treated around four million people and gained more than 90% treatment success. Iterative planning, partnership with the private sector, strategic advocacy, communication, social mobilization, operational research, and increasing domestic funding are essential to improving case notification and treatment success. Lack of adequate political commitment, over-and under-reporting, lack of a systematic mechanism for sputum transport, and inefficient coverage from the private sector are the main areas for improvement. Local and national strategic planning in funding, program development, and implementation is imperative from a multisectoral perspective for ending TB. Ensuring universal health coverage, treating drug-resistant cases, maintaining and strengthening the national health information system, and upgrading the vital registration system is the cornerstone for ending TB.

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call

Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.