Toolkit to develop a national strategic plan for TB control: prevention, care and control: methodology on how to develop a national strategic plan

Overview

A national strategic plan (NSP) for TB care and control constitutes the key instrument to efficiently implement the defined policies for TB control in a country. It must reflect the vision of the national TB programme (NTP) and be in line with the national health policies and strategies as well as with the general health plan for the country. For global public health problems such as TB, development of national strategic plans should be guided by a national adaptation of the global strategy. The development of a NSP should be based on an in-depth analysis of TB epidemiology and in order to rely on a clear understanding of the TB control situation and follow a rational process of development. An appropriate NSP needs to cover a specific period of time of several years, usually at least 5 years. It must have a clear goal, consistent with the overall aim of the existing policy for TB control.

The NSP is the most important strategic document guiding national health authorities in managing and implementing appropriate TB control activities while being part of a collective movement to meet the overall global health-related SDGs beyond 2015.

This toolkit has been developed to assist in formulating a NSP. Its various components were assembled to help the NTP managers and all stakeholders involved in the management of TB programmes develop new NSPs or improve the existing ones based on the procedures described across five key elements.

This toolkit provides a clear methodology to translate the End TB strategy into sound, and visionary NSPs. A sound and bold plan is, in fact, the starting point to deliver better care and achieve control of TB towards, ultimately, its elimination as a public health problem.

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