ISLAMABAD: The Global Fund has deferred the concept paper of the National Tuberculosis Programme (NTP) which is worth $139 million and has directed for it to be submitted in August this year to avoid rejection and other complications.

However, the concept paper for the Malaria Control Programme, worth Rs39 million was approved and that for the National Aids Control Programme (NACP) was accepted for inspection by the technical review panel (TRP) of the fund.

The Global Fund is a financing institution which provides support to countries in regard to three diseases- HIV, TB and malaria and has provided prevention, treatment and care services to hundreds of millions of people.

An NTP official said the programme and two other organisations had prepared the concept papers which were to be submitted on May 23 but did not include a common TB strategy.

“The Global Fund has deferred the concept paper and directed the NTP to resubmit it in August or the TRP may reject it which will cause problems.

Concept paper for Malaria Control Programme approved, National Aids Control Programme accepted for inspection

“So the concept paper for the programme worth $139 million and spread over three years will be prepared again and it will hopefully be accepted in August,” he said.

Talking to Dawn, NTP Manager Dr Nasir Mehmood said Pakistan needs to be self-reliant because funding from the Global Fund has been decreasing.

“The Global Fund has also conveyed to us that we should give preference to domestic funding. However, we really appreciate their funds as it provides us with medicines, machines and other assistance,” he said.

Earlier in the morning, Mr Mehmood made similar remarks during the ‘Consultation Workshop- Partnering with the Media to End TB in Pakistan,” hosted by Stop TB Pakistan (STP).

“The Global Fund gives is $143 million in funds when we need $490 million for three years. Therefore, there is a need to be more self-reliant,” he said.

He added that some 500,000 people are affected by TB in Pakistan of which some 350,000 are treated at government centres.

“The major challenge for us is Multiple Drug Resistance from which some 12,000 people suffer each year and of which 3,500 get treated each year,” he said.

TB patients are usually given medicines for six months and if they stop taking them during this time, the virus becomes immune and it requires 10 times more funds to treat the patient.

STP vice chair Dr Syed Sharaf Shah said half the TB cases in Pakistan are not reported because people either do not have themselves checked or they hide their diagnosis due to the stigma attached to the illness.

“Each year in Pakistan, some 44,000 people die of TB, which is very curable. The majority of TB patients are between the ages of 15 and 44, so it can be said that the breadwinners are affected by the illness.

“There is a need for raising awareness and there should also be political will for the eradication of the disease,” he said.

STP senior advisor Syed Karam Shah said it was not doctors’ responsibility to control TB and that the disease cannot be controlled till poverty is controlled, sanitation is improved and development work is done.

Published in Dawn, May 25th, 2017