Guest edited by Qian Long, Fei Huang and Shitong Huan
A thematic series in Infectious Diseases of Poverty.
Tuberculosis (TB) is a leading infectious cause of death globally and the top killer of antimicrobial-resistant infections. China is one of the high burden countries of both TB and multi-drug resistant TB (MDR-TB). With support from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention has introduced and supported in implementing a system-wide comprehensive TB control model in three provinces: Zhejiang, Jilin and Ningxia varying in geographic location and socio-economic development levels. The targeted interventions include application of new technologies for case detection and diagnosis, introduction of electronic medication for TB patient management, reform of TB health information system, capacity building of TB professionals, and multi-sources financing for TB and pilot of new payment method. This special issue from Infectious Disease of Poverty collected several articles that assessed the effects of the comprehensive interventions on TB and MDR-TB detection, treatment and financial risk protection as well as implementation experience and lessons learned during the project periods. The goal of this special issue is to share the good practices, experience and lessons from the project and to inform better policy-making. We also discuss way forwards to strengthening TB control system in China, and their implications for what other low- and middle-income countries in the era of the COVID-19 pandemic.
