The 14th Conference of the International Society for Priorities in Health (ISPH) – Priorities Conference 2024 –, an international forum for healthcare priority setting, took place in Bangkok from May 8th to 10th. The conference was hosted by the Health Intervention and Technology Assessment Program (HITAP), the Ministry of Public Health – Thailand, and the International Society for Priorities in Health (ISPH). This year’s theme, “Shaping the Future of Health Prioritization: Strategies for Sustainable Solutions”, drew academics, researchers, policymakers, health professionals, and other stakeholders from around the globe to engage in knowledge exchange, foster collaborations, enhance professional development, and explore innovative strategies for Universal Health Care (UHC) and the attainment of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) .
A highlight of the conference was a presentation by Demelash Assefa, a representative of KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation, who showcased the organization’s work on evidence-based tuberculosis (TB) planning in resource constrained settings. The presentation, titled “Evidence-Based TB Planning in Resource-Limited Countries: Experience on Intervention Prioritization Processes in Ethiopia and Namibia”, outlined a comprehensive approach to optimizing TB interventions using the Tuberculosis Intervention Measure and Estimate (TIME) model.
The study presented underscored the relevance of scenario-based modeling to identify the most efficient interventions for resource allocation. It highlighted that a combination of interventions, rather than a single strategy, is essential to achieve substantial progress towards the common goal to ending TB.
Key findings in this presentation included:
– In Namibia, the most comprehensive intervention scenario, which combined molecular testing expansion, active TB case finding, and the introduction of TB preventive treatment for high-risk groups, projected a 54% decline in TB incidence and a 55% reduction in mortality by the end of the National Strategic Planning period.
– In Ethiopia, the same comprehensive approach was projected to result in a 41% decline in TB incidence and a 50% reduction in mortality.
The presentation emphasized the importance of the People-Centred Framework (PCF) for NSP, advocating for a tailored approach to TB interventions that consider the unique contexts and needs of each country at national and subnational levels. Sharing knowledge and experiences from these findings has contributed valuable insights for policymakers and health professionals striving to enhance local and global efforts to end TB, with special emphasis on resource-limited settings.
Learn more about the PCF for TB Programming HERE.
For more information about the Priorities Conference 2024 visit their website HERE.