Quarterly Monitoring Report: Challenge TB - VIETNAM Year 2 January-March 2016

The program's workplan for the period of October 2015 to September 2016 focuses on several key objectives, including comprehensive, high-quality diagnostics, patient-centered care and treatment, and infection control. One of the major achievements in the first quarter of 2016 was the introduction of the new TB drug Bedaquiline (BDQ) in Vietnam. As of March 31, 2016, a cumulative total of 25 pre-XDR and XDR-TB patients in three pilot provinces had been enrolled on a BDQ-containing treatment regimen. Additionally, the program has made significant progress in the procurement of GeneXpert machines and cartridges, with 28 packages of extended warranty, 12 modules, and one central processing unit (CPU) for in-country stock, as well as 20 new machines and 50,000 Xpert MTB/RIF cartridges, being procured under the NTP/GF concept note 2015. The program has also provided technical assistance to Binh Dinh TB and Lung Disease Hospital in the renovation of the MDR-TB treatment department, with the layout designs being finalized and submitted to the Provincial Department of Health for financial support. Furthermore, TB-IC facility assessments have been conducted in seven districts with TB-HIV integrated services among five provinces selected by the Ministry of Health, and the TB-IC improvement plans have been developed by the staff at the District Health Center/District General Hospital and reviewed by the staff at Provincial TB Hospital and Provincial HIV/AIDS Centers and CTB staff. A regulatory document for sustaining funding for TB has been issued: The circular No. 4/2016/TT-BYT dated February 26, 2016, on regulations on medical examination and treatment, and payment of health insurance-related tuberculosis diagnosis and treatment. This circular allows patients with presumptive TB to be referred from commune health posts to provincial TB hospitals, bypassing district health centers, with benefits of health insurance reimbursement. The circular also covers diagnosis and treatment, including SLD for drug-resistant TB, and provides the provision of health insurance for TB prophylaxis treatment. The program has made significant progress in meeting its milestones, with 67% of the total number of milestones being met, 25% partially met, and 8% not met. The program has also provided technical assistance to the National Tuberculosis Program (NTP) in the procurement of GeneXpert machines and cartridges, and has conducted frequent TA by CTB for technical support to NTP in procurement of 28 packages of extended warranty, 12 modules, and one CPU for in-country stock, and 20 new machines and 50,000 Xpert MTB/RIF cartridges under NTP/GF concept note 2015. The program has also made progress in patient-centered care and treatment, including the introduction of the new TB drug Bedaquiline (BDQ) in Vietnam, and the procurement of GeneXpert machines and cartridges. The program has also provided technical assistance to Binh Dinh TB and Lung Disease Hospital in the renovation of the MDR-TB treatment department, and has conducted TB-IC facility assessments in seven districts with TB-HIV integrated services among five provinces selected by the Ministry of Health. The program's success in meeting its milestones and achieving its objectives is a testament to the collaborative efforts of the KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation, the World Health Organization, and other partners. The program's progress in introducing new TB drugs, procuring GeneXpert machines and cartridges, and improving infection control measures will have a significant impact on the control and treatment of TB in Vietnam.