Public-private mix TB activities in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, North India: delivering dots via collaboration with private providers and non-governmental organizations.
BACKGROUND
We evaluated the contribution of public-private collaboration between the Indian tuberculosis (TB) programme and the private health sector (including non-governmental organizations and private providers) to TB case-detection and treatment outcomes in Meerut district, India.


METHODS
District TB registers from January 2001-June 2003 were reviewed.


RESULTS
The 2002 new AFB-positive case-notification rate (103/100,000 population) in Meerut exceeded national targets. Of the 7,062 new AFB-positive patients registered, 2,084 (29%) were detected at private sector microscopy and DOTS treatment centres; treatment outcomes met programme targets.


CONCLUSIONS
Public-private collaborations can be successfully implemented at the district level in India, and have the potential for substantial contributions to TB control efforts in India.
Sehgal
Shruti
S
Office of the World Health Organization Representative to India, New Delhi, India. sehgals@tbcindia.org
Dewan
Puneet K
PK
Chauhan
L S
LS
Sahu
Suvanand
S
Wares
Fraser
F
Granich
Reuben
R
D003140:Communicable Disease Control / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D023801:Directly Observed Therapy; D018563:Disease Notification / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D017149:Private Sector; D017150:Public Sector; D012042:Registries; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology