National Strategic Plan for Tuberculosis 2016-2020

The plan was guided by the World Health Organization's End TB Strategy and aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The NTP applied the 3-in-1 principle, comprising a coordinating body, a national strategic plan, and a national monitoring and evaluation system. The plan was developed with the involvement of various stakeholders in TB control activities and technical support from the Ministry of Health and Sports, the World Health Organization, and the USAID-funded Challenge TB Project. The operational plan, monitoring and evaluation plan, and a concise version of the NSP were issued as supplements to the full narrative version of the plan. The strategic directions outlined in the plan include Integrated, Patient-centered Care and Prevention, Bold Policies and Supportive Systems, and Intensified Research and Innovation. Strategic Direction I focuses on accelerating the appropriate diagnosis of TB, identifying and treating all forms of TB, preventing transmission and the emergence of active TB, and intensifying targeted action to reach marginalized and at-risk populations. Strategic Direction II emphasizes securing financial resources for the implementation of the NSP, promoting a coordinated and multi-sectoral response, and ensuring inclusion of TB in Universal Health Coverage and wider economic development plans. Strategic Direction III prioritizes implementing the research agenda, enhancing evidence-based programme monitoring and evaluation, and promoting innovation in TB control. The plan aims to achieve several key impact and outcome targets, including a 50% reduction in TB incidence and a 75% reduction in TB mortality by 2020. The plan also aims to increase the number of people on TB treatment, improve the quality of TB care, and enhance the capacity of the NTP to implement the plan. The plan was developed with the support of funding sources, including the Ministry of Health and Sports, the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, the 3MDG Fund, and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The plan constitutes a reference document for the implementation of TB control activities in Myanmar. The plan includes several annexes, including the GeneXpert diagnostic algorithm, executive summaries of PMDT monitoring reports, and summaries of joint missions and pediatric missions. The plan also includes several figures and tables, providing data on TB incidence and prevalence, case notification rates, and treatment success rates. The plan aims to provide a reference and guide for delivering quality TB prevention and care services to the entire population in Myanmar, as an integral part of the country's move towards Universal Health Coverage. The plan is expected to contribute to the reduction of TB incidence and mortality in Myanmar and improve the quality of TB care in the country.