Summary of publication

This is the report of an independent assessment of programmatic management of drug-resistant tuberculosis in Papua New Guinea.

In November 2012 a team of five TB experts from the World Health Organization (WHO) conducted an independent assessment of programmatic management of drug-resistant TB in PNG.

The team visited Western and Morobe Provinces as well as Port Moresby. The report, finalised in June 2013, states there is clear progress in TB prevention and control in South Fly district since the last WHO monitoring visit in October 2011. The review team found that in South Fly, infection control has been improved at Daru General Hospital, health staff have been trained, transport and communication improved, health facilities supervised and outreach activities implemented. Better diagnosis as a result of Australian-funded diagnostic machines has led to an increase in the number of patients identified with TB and MDR-TB. Importantly, MDR-TB patients have been promptly started on treatment with promising results so far, including a decline in deaths.

The report contains useful guidance for the Government of PNG, and partners including the Australian government, to continue to improve TB management and control in PNG including Western Province.

(Note: The report states that the major challenge identified during the mission was the expected end of Global Fund TB grant leading to a potential disruption of PNG's National TB Program. However, since November 2012, PNG has received a no-cost extension of their current Global Fund TB grant until 30 June 2013, and is currently applying to the Global Fund for USD 9.5 million to extend funding of the National TB Program until the end of 2014.)

Full publication

WHO review of Programmatic Management of Drug resistant Tuberculosis in PNG [PDF 1.1 MB]