Quality of Tuberculosis Services Assessment in the Philippines: Report
Abstract: According to the 2018 Global Tuberculosis Report released by the World Health Organization (WHO), tuberculosis (TB) is the tenth leading cause of death and is the leading cause of death from a single infectious agent. Heads of state committed to ambitious targets aimed at eliminating TB during the first-ever United Nations High-Level Meeting on Tuberculosis conducted in September 2018 at the United Nations General Assembly.
WHO has identified 30 countries where the TB burden is high, including the Philippines. The country has one of the most severe epidemics, with an estimated 500 new cases per 100,000 population. This rate is higher than the 150 to 400 per 100,000 population in most of the 30 high-burden TB countries. In response, the Philippines has enacted a TB law, which called for the creation of a national strategic plan. The Republic of Philippines National Tuberculosis Control Program responded with the Philippine Strategic TB Elimination Plan, running from 2017 to 2022.
Studies show that good quality of care in TB services helps patients and their families address their health needs safely and effectively. Therefore, to enhance TB service use, there is a need to assess and improve the quality of TB services. A Quality of TB Services Assessment (QTSA) was conducted by MEASURE Evaluation in the Philippines to assess the quality of TB services in randomly selected health facilities. Its purpose was to identify where services were of high quality and where there were gaps and to ensure that TB patients were receiving the care that they deserve. The QTSA assessed three domains of quality of care: the structure of the health facility, the service delivery process, and the outcomes of service delivery. The results were used to develop programs or interventions to improve TB service delivery.
Access additional QTSA resources at https://www.tbdiah.org/assessments/quality-of-tuberculosis-services-assessments/.
WHO has identified 30 countries where the TB burden is high, including the Philippines. The country has one of the most severe epidemics, with an estimated 500 new cases per 100,000 population. This rate is higher than the 150 to 400 per 100,000 population in most of the 30 high-burden TB countries. In response, the Philippines has enacted a TB law, which called for the creation of a national strategic plan. The Republic of Philippines National Tuberculosis Control Program responded with the Philippine Strategic TB Elimination Plan, running from 2017 to 2022.
Studies show that good quality of care in TB services helps patients and their families address their health needs safely and effectively. Therefore, to enhance TB service use, there is a need to assess and improve the quality of TB services. A Quality of TB Services Assessment (QTSA) was conducted by MEASURE Evaluation in the Philippines to assess the quality of TB services in randomly selected health facilities. Its purpose was to identify where services were of high quality and where there were gaps and to ensure that TB patients were receiving the care that they deserve. The QTSA assessed three domains of quality of care: the structure of the health facility, the service delivery process, and the outcomes of service delivery. The results were used to develop programs or interventions to improve TB service delivery.
Access additional QTSA resources at https://www.tbdiah.org/assessments/quality-of-tuberculosis-services-assessments/.
Shortname: tr-19-350
Author(s): Soumya Alva and Suzanne Cloutier
Year: 2019
Language: English
Region(s): PHILIPPINES
Resource Type: Guidance and Tools
Source: MEASURE Evaluation
Filed under: Assessment, Philippines, QTSA, Quality of care, Report, Service delivery, TB, TB services, Tuberculosis
