What is it about?
This study explores how digital health tools and combined COVID-19 and TB services helped restore and improve TB care and prevention that was disrupted during the COVID-19 pandemic. It focuses on four countries with high TB burdens and describes the strategies used to integrate care and recover essential TB services.
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Why is it important?
It's important because the COVID-19 pandemic severely disrupted tuberculosis (TB) services worldwide, leading to missed diagnoses and treatment delays. This increased the risk of TB transmission and deaths. By studying how digital health tools and integrated COVID-19 and TB services helped restore care in high-burden countries, the research offers valuable lessons for strengthening health systems, ensuring continuity of essential services during crises, and improving future TB control strategies.
Perspectives
The study highlights the potential of digital health solutions and integrated COVID-19 and TB services to strengthen health system resilience and ensure continuity of TB care during public health crises. These approaches can be scaled and adapted to other high-burden settings, offering a model for more sustainable, patient-centered care. By improving access, adherence, and service delivery through technology and integration, the study supports the development of informed health policies and long-term strategies to maintain and enhance TB prevention and control, even in the face of future pandemics.
Dr. Bakyt Bolotbekovich Myrzaliev
KNCV Tuberculosefonds
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Digital health solutions and integrated COVID-19 and TB services to help recover TB care and prevention services in the COVID-19 pandemic: A descriptive study in four high TB burden countries, PLOS One, November 2023, PLOS,
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0293964.
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