title: Tuberculosis control in China: use of modelling to develop targets and policies.
abstract: It is unclear if current programmes in China can achieve the post-2015 global targets for tuberculosis - 50% reduction in incidence and a 75% reduction in mortality by 2025. Chinese policy-makers need to maintain the recent decline in the prevalence of tuberculosis, while revising control policies to cope with an epidemic of drug-resistant tuberculosis and the effects of ongoing health reform. Health reforms are expected to shift patients from tuberculosis dispensaries to designated hospitals. We developed a mathematical model of tuberculosis control in China to help set appropriate targets and prioritize interventions that might be implemented in the next 10 years. This model indicates that, even under the most optimistic scenario - improved treatment in tuberculosis dispensaries, introduction of a new effective regimen for the treatment of drug-susceptible tuberculosis and optimal care of cases of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis - the current global targets for tuberculosis are unlikely to be reached. However, reductions in the incidence of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis should be feasible. We conclude that a shift of patients from tuberculosis dispensaries to designated hospitals is likely to hamper efforts at tuberculosis control if cure rates in the designated hospitals cannot be maintained at a high level. Our results can inform the planning of tuberculosis control in China.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Rm706, No.17 Xuzhou Rd, Taipei 100, Taiwan, China .
authors.forename: Hsien-Ho
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China .
authors.forename: Lixia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China .
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China .
authors.forename: Yunzhou
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ruan
authors.affiliation: China Office, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Beijing, China .
authors.forename: Daniel P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Chin
authors.affiliation: Office of the Director General, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland .
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dye
mesh_terms: D000995:Antitubercular Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D018166:Health Care Reform; D006291:Health Policy; D006292:Health Priorities; D006779:Hospitals, Public; D006801:Humans; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D011635:Public Health Administration; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D018088:Tuberculosis, Multidrug-Resistant / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D000995:Antitubercular Agents