TB-Worldwide Strategies
DOTS
Directly Observed Therapy Strategy commonly referred as DOTS was a strategy launched by the WHO in 1995 to combat the spread of Tuberculosis (TB). Since its launch, more than 22 million patients have been treated under DOTS-based services.
The DOTS starategy comprised of five components:1
- Political commitment with increased and sustained financing (Legislation, planning, human resources, management and training)
- Case detection through quality-assured bacteriology (Strengthening Tuberculosis (TB) laboratories and drug resistance surveillance)
- Standardized treatment with supervision and patient support (Tuberculosis (TB) treatment and program management guidelines, International Standards of TB Care (ISTC), PPM, Practical Approach to Lung Health (PAL), community-patient involvement)
- Effective drug supply and management system (Availability of drugs, TB drug management, Global Drug Facility (GDF), Green Light Committee (GLC)
- Monitoring and evaluation system and impact measurement (TB recording and reporting systems, Global TB Control Report, data and country profiles, TB planning and budgeting tool, WHO epidemiology and surveillance online training
Stop TB Strategy
In 2006, WHO launched the new strategy called ‘Stop TB Strategy’ due to the emergence of the MDR-TB.. DOTS remains at the heart of the Stop TB Strategy. This is a new six-point strategy that builds on this success, while recognizing the key challenges of TB/HIV and MDR-TB. It also responds to access, equity and quality constraints, and adopts evidence-based innovations in engaging with private healthcare providers, empowering affected people and communities and helping to strengthen health systems and promote research.
The six components of the Stop TB Strategy are:
-
Pursuing high-quality DOTS expansion and enhancement.
-
Addressing TB/HIV, MDR-TB and other challenges.
-
Contributing to health system strengthening.
-
Engaging all care providers.
-
Empowering people with TB, and communities.
-
Enabling and promoting research.
Next page: Mode of transmission of tuberculosis
Written by: Healthplus24 team
Date last updated: July 12, 2011