Initiative for Promoting Affordable and Quality Tests (IPAQT) is a pioneering alliance aiming to increase access to affordable, high quality testing for patients seeking initial care in the private sector by reducing test costs to laboratories as well as out-of-pocket costs to patients.

The initiative has now partnered with local private laboratory networks, Chughtai Lab and Excel Labs, to improve accessibility and affordability for WHO-approved tuberculosis testing in Pakistan.

Why is early diagnosis important?

Despite being a preventable and curable disease, 69,000 people die because of TB every year in Pakistan.

Pakistan is ranked fifth among high-burden TB-struck countries worldwide, with over 500,000 new cases emerging each year, and more than 180,000 missing and undiagnosed cases.

Accurate and rapid testing is essential to diagnose the air-borne disease in patients, but access to high quality testing is limited due to a lack of cost effective options.

Speaking about the value of affordable diagnostic testing, Dr. Naseer Ahmed, CEO of Excel Labs said, “More than 75% of Pakistanis rely on private healthcare institutions for their medical needs, including diagnostic testing. Accurate, fast and high quality diagnostic tests are key to detecting disease, supporting rapid delivery of care, improving the health of communities and saving lives."

How is the alliance helping?

To address this growing challenge, IPAQT is offering WHO-approved GeneXpert TB test at reduced prices across Pakistan.

The GeneXpert TB test is a highly accurate and rapid diagnostic test that can detect the presence of TB bacteria as well as drug resistance in under 2 hours.

Patients can now get tested at discounted prices in all Chughtai Lab and Excel Lab centres for Rs3,500 - 4,000, in place of the original price which is Rs6,400 and above in most local labs.

Speaking about the importance of providing patients with quality healthcare, Dr. Omar Chughtai, Director Operations of Chughtai Lab said, “Our mission is to take care of our patients. In working with IPAQT, we are providing the (GeneXpert) test at reduced rates for the maximum number of patients across our nationwide network, giving access to those who could not have availed the test before.”

Tuberculosis is a preventable disease and by making GeneXpert TB testing accessible, IPAQT aims to enhance the capacity of private laboratories to offer affordable options to patients.

To learn more about the alliance, head over to their official website.

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