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The global tuberculosis (TB) situation has changed over the past decade with the establishment of global initiatives that have dramatically increased funding for TB, ensured the availability of quality assured TB medicines for vulnerable populations, and increased sources of assistance and capacity building.
Yet despite these efforts, multi-drug resistant TB (MDR-TB) is fast becoming a global threat with an estimated number of 400,000 new cases emerging ever year - and only a small part of these are actually reported and treated.
In an effort to address and identify the underlying reasons for the development of MDR-TB, Management Sciences for Health's Strengthening Pharmaceutical Systems (SPS) Program, funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), will be holding an African regional conference in Johannesburg, South Africa from July 19-21, 2011.
The objective of the conference is to develop an understanding and consensus on the region-specific gaps in TB pharmaceutical management that threaten the success of controlling the disease through the misuse of existing tools and systems.
Specifically the conference intends to address the following topics:
- Pharmaceutical Sector Governance and Its Impact on TB Control (e.g. policies, regulations, legislation, civil society involvement)
- Quality of TB Medicines (international and in-country quality assurance issues)
- Pharmaceutical Services for TB (TB medicines utilization and Pharmacovigilance in TB control)
- Human Resource Development (training, capacity building)
- TB/HIV Management and Service Integration
- Management Information Systems in TB Control
- Diffusion of New TB Technologies: Tools, Diagnostics, Medicines, etc.
- Supply Chain Management Issues (procurement, distribution, stock out, etc.)
- Improving Access Through the Private Sector
- Laboratory Services
Conclusions and results drawn from the conference will be presented at the 42nd Union World TB conference. The expected outcomes will be country focused and will include donor intervention plans aimed at reducing the development and spread of MDR-TB. The target audience of the conference includes leaders of National TB programs, policy-makers, USAID and other donor missions, and implementers of donor programs. The conference will be conducted in close collaboration with WHO, global initiatives (such as The Global Fund and Global Drug Facility), and Stop TB partners involved in TB control in the region. For more information, please contact technical coordinators Andre Zagorski (azagorski@msh.org) and Chinwe Owunna (cowunna@msh.org).
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