Tuberculosis control in Pakistan: A decade (2011-2020) in review

Authors

  • Ghulam Nabi Kazi Dopasi Foundation, Islamabad, Pakistan
  • Kinz-ul-Eman Dopasi Foundation, Islamabad, Pakistan
  • Khalif Bile Mohamud Somali-Swedish Researcher’s Association, Stockholm, Sweden
  • Aurangzaib Quadir Former Manager, National Tuberculosis Control Program, Islamabad, Pakistan
  • Syed Karam Shah Stop TB Pakistan, Islamabad, Pakistan
  • Zaeem ul Haq Independent Consultant

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.32413/pjph.v12i1.955

Keywords:

Tuberculosis, prevention, prevalence, incidence, strategies, Pakistan

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.

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Published

02-05-2022

How to Cite

1.
Kazi GN, Eman K- ul-, Mohamud KB, Quadir A, Shah SK, Haq Z ul. Tuberculosis control in Pakistan: A decade (2011-2020) in review. Pak J Public Health [Internet]. 2022 May 2 [cited 2024 Dec. 11];12(1):17-22. Available from: https://pjph.org/pjph/article/view/955