Public-Private Mix (PPM) for TB care and prevention
Engaging all health providers through
Public-Private Mix (PPM) approaches is essential to reach the millions of
people with TB who miss out on access to quality care each year either due to
under-reporting or under-diagnosis. This gap has further widened due to the
COVID-19 pandemic and other ongoing crises globally. Health care providers
outside the scope of NTPs, including the private and informal sector, are often
the first point of care for TB patients. However, often these providers are not
fully engaged despite evidence from country experiences that demonstrate
increased detection and good treatment outcomes through PPM approaches. These
gaps are more pronounced in high TB burden countries with dominant private
healthcare sectors or with large proportion of public health providers who are
not linked with national TB programmes.
As countries move towards Universal Health
Coverage (UHC) and towards reaching the TB-related targets in the Sustainable
Development Goals and End TB Strategy, they need to harness the full potential
of all care providers (public and private). TB programmes can be pioneers in
this area by accelerating the strategic engagement of all health care
providers. Access to essential TB services across both the public and private
sectors should be ensured especially in emergencies such as the COVID-19
pandemic and to reach the most vulnerable.
The World Health Organization (WHO) with partners
including the Stop TB Working Group on Public-Private Mix for TB Care and
Prevention (PPM Working Group), is regularly supporting countries, to enhance
collaboration between NTPs and diverse public, voluntary, corporate and private
health care providers for TB care in different settings. WHO provides the
Secretariat for the Working Group, organizes periodic global meetings of the
group and leads the development and promotion of global policies, strategies
and tools related to PPM expansion.
