PATH helps pharmacy staff recognize and support clients with tuberculosis

In many countries, people who fall ill seek care in a variety of settings, both public and private health facilities. In Cambodia, for example, pharmacy staff often diagnose and treat simple as well as serious diseases, such as tuberculosis (TB), though they may have very little understanding of the disease.

When it comes to TB, getting accurate information early is critical not only to the patient, but to public health. It can help guide people to accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment, cut down on TB transmission, and discourage the unregulated sale of anti-TB drugs in the private sector.

Pioneering high-quality TB care

PATH is working to engage all health care providers—whether in the public or private sectors—in delivering high-quality, standardized care for tuberculosis. The concept is called public-private mix (PPM).

PATH has worked with pharmacies and other health care facilities to train staff in:

• Recognizing signs and symptoms of TB.
• Providing information for people who are suspected of having TB.
• Referring patients to facilities that provide standardized TB diagnosis and treatment.

“Our goal is to help ensure that people receive screening and speedy referral for TB diagnosis and treatment, no matter where they go for health care services.”
—Hara Mihalea, regional senior ACSM/PPM technical officer, PATH

The project that began in Cambodia is now being replicated in India, Tanzania, and Vietnam with funding from the United States Agency for International Development and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria.

Controlling TB through public-private partnership

The program in India, run in partnership with the government’s Revised National TB Control Program, is helping patients get accurate diagnoses and the treatment they need.

“PATH has expanded my knowledge and skills on how to identify chest symptoms and how to use the referral mechanism,” said one pharmacist who has referred numerous clients for diagnosis since his training. “Recently, a client returned and praised my referral. He expressed his gratitude for my honest advice…”

In Hai Phong, Vietnam, PATH began working to link private-sector providers to public health facilities that provide TB and HIV services. After building the skills and capacity of staff in private pharmacies and clinics, establishing referral systems, and piloting a partnership model between private clinics and public facilities, the program has seen more people receive treatment for TB and HIV. With positive results in Hai Phong, PATH is expanding the program to additional provinces.

Photo: PATH/Nguyen Ba Quang.