Call for a patient-centered approach to TB diagnostics

To prioritize an agenda for implementing TB diagnostics that centers upon the patient with TB symptoms and highlights patient well-being and cure.

Current approaches to scale-up of TB diagnostics do not sufficiently focus on the primary goal of diagnosis, which is to treat and cure people with TB and relieve the economic and physical burden of suffering that TB imposes. Please call for the prioritization of an agenda for implementing TB diagnostics that centers upon the patient with TB symptoms and highlights patient well-being and cure by signing at the link below.

https://www.change.org/petitions/global-policymakers-and-funders-to-prioritize-an-agenda-for-implementing-tb-diagnostics-that-centers-upon-the-patient-with-tb-symptoms-and-highlights-patient-well-being-and-cure

National TB Programs in high-burden countries, in-country program staff, technical assistance agencies, academic institutions, supranational and non-governmental organizations, came together to discuss this issue at the World Lung Conference in Paris, France in November 2013. That meeting resulted in this statement, which highlights the importance of TB diagnosis as a continuum of care, and outlines the 5 key elements of a patient-centered agenda for TB diagnostic testing: focus on cure, access to care, systems of care, empowered patients and sustainability.

Please disseminate to your networks so we can get as many signatories as possible by World TB Day.