Partnership and Learning Collaboratives for TB Elimination

The project is led by Management Sciences for Health (MSH) in partnership with Nathan Associates and Open Development. HS4TB aims to transform the way country leaders and health system managers understand and work toward TB control and elimination. The project's primary focus is on health financing and governance in USAID TB priority countries. HS4TB helps countries increase domestic financing, use key TB resources more efficiently, build in-country technical and managerial competence and leadership, and support policy formation and dissemination. The project's objectives are aligned with the National Strategic Plan for TB Elimination 2017-2025, which aims to expand TB control and elimination interventions to include the private sector in the diagnosis, treatment, and care of TB patients. Private-sector engagement is a key priority for the Government of India (GOI) in its TB response. The GOI has expanded TB control and elimination interventions to include the private sector, and contracting plays a crucial role in this engagement. The proposed Partnership Learning Collaborative (PLC) is a platform to improve coordination between the government and non-governmental organizations (NGOs)/private sector for more streamlined and effective contracting processes and outcomes. The PLC will focus on addressing challenges such as communication gaps, lack of transparency or sharing of information, problems in quality of services, delays in payment, lack of accountability, and inefficient systems of monitoring and grievance redressal. The PLC will also aim to address the lack of trust, inequality of power, and lack of awareness among private-sector health care partners. The project will be implemented in partnership with the National TB Elimination Program (NTEP) and will involve multiple actors, including private intermediary agencies, NGOs, and private health care providers. The PLC will establish a platform for open dialogue and collaboration between the government and private actors. The project will also aim to promote patient-centricity, shared accountability, and innovation and flexibility in private-sector engagement. The PLC will be governed by a Steering Group and Working Groups, which will be responsible for overseeing the project's implementation and ensuring its success. The project's implementation will be supported by the development of a digital TB portal (Ni-kshay) and the introduction of new contracting modalities, such as the Patient Provider Support Agency (PPSA) intermediary model. The project will also aim to increase private-sector TB case notifications and improve the quality of TB services provided by private health care providers. The HS4TB project is expected to contribute to the achievement of TB elimination goals in India by improving coordination between the government and private sector, addressing challenges in private-sector engagement, and promoting patient-centricity, shared accountability, and innovation and flexibility. The project's success will depend on the effective collaboration and partnership between the government, private sector, and other stakeholders involved in the TB response.