Alivia Biswas
John Snow Inc, India
Title: Structured capacity building of private providers through ICT based solution enhanced TB notification from private sector
Biography
Biography: Alivia Biswas
Abstract
Statement of Problem: India’s private sector is treating an enormous number of patients for tuberculosis, appreciably higher than has been previously recognized. Prompt notification to the public health system is an important component of the TB surveillance and controlling TB. Poor notification of TB cases from private sector, in Kolkata, second largest city of India is a concern. This study aimed to determine the yield of providing ICT support to private doctors to notify TB cases and assess the increase in TB case notification in Kolkata. Methodology: An observational study was done over three months involving 174 private doctors treating TB, who were earlier not notifying TB cases. They were provided technical inputs on how to notify TB cases through trainings and logistics support was extended through ICT based call center dependent platform to notify TB cases. Findings: Of 174, 63% doctors started to notify TB cases regularly and notified 419 cases of TB. The notification showed an increasing trend with increase during the last month which coincided with increase in technical inputs through trainings and one-to-one interactions. Conclusion and Significance: The 419 cases notified in three months, is close to the annual notification of 679 TB cases, as per 2016 TB report, from private sector in Kolkata. The real-time ICT solution which takes away the demand on time of the private providers to notify proved to be a success to boost private sector TB notification in Kolkata. Further observance may be required over a longer period of time, with a larger group of private providers to evaluate the effectiveness of the intervention.
