Neusa OVT Lopes
Pulmonologist, National Hospital Guido Valadares,Timor Leste
Title: Engaging retail drug outlets or private pharmacy has been translated into programmatic policy, strategy, and intervention in low- and middle-income countries for early detection of TBC cases and prevention of MDR TB
Biography
Biography: Neusa OVT Lopes
Abstract
Engaging retail drug outlets has been translated into programmatic policy, strategy, and intervention in low- and middle-income countries. We need to think beyond traditional models that expect pharmacists to be able to recognize who may have TB and passively refer TB patients to the public sector. Pharmacists can be engaged for a variety of TB services across the cascade of care, and private pharmacies have been actively engaged in some development countries that have dramatically increased private sector TB case notifications in the country and improved quality of TB care in the private sector. In addition, a supportive and effective regulatory environment may be as important to help curb the private pharmacy sale of unnecessary antibiotics, and decrease diagnostic delays for millions of TB patients. Successful TB control efforts hinge on early diagnosis and appropriate treatment.