INTRODUCING NEW APPROACHES AND TOOLS FOR ENHANCED TB CONTROL (INAT) SUBGROUP

INAT was conceptualized as a sub-group that would cut across all working and sub-working groups, to support the coordination and consolidation of information and assistance flowing to and from TB endemic countries. To achieve this, two fairly distinct streams of work are needed.

Stream One: Preparing for new tools
Under this stream, INAT will capitalize on its position within the DEWG to regularly communicate with high-burden countries and other TB endemic countries to foster preparedness for the tools that are under development and/or evaluation. Similarly, INAT will actively seek inputs from TB control implementers about potential constraints to the uptake of new tools that will be applied to the activities of other working groups. INAT will ensure systematic sharing of consolidated information across tools (e.g. regular compilation and dissemination of pipeline data from all new tools working groups), and can serve as a platform for addressing areas of common concern (e.g. strengthening regulatory frameworks in disease-endemic countries).

Stream Two: Streamlining policy and rolling out innovative new approaches and endorsed tools
The process that takes a field-demonstrated approach or tool into WHO/global policy has been documented. Further consideration of how to maintain the accessibility and efficiency of this process as more approaches enter the review phase is needed, including how to streamline the formulation and communication of guidance to countries when multiple new approaches are endorsed. Already, many new approaches and tools have been endorsed by WHO and the Union in recent years (e.g. PAL, new diagnostic algorithm for TB/HIV, IPT, PPM, new diagnostic approaches and technologies). Few have been successfully scaled up in most or all countries. Furthermore, dissemination of the new approaches or tools is commonly planned independently (i.e. only one tool/approach considered at a time) and with varied pilot or focus countries. INAT will support further coordination of the implementation of new approaches, with a view to providing all disease-endemic countries with better access to information and assistance related to all new approaches and to fostering more rapid uptake of appropriate new approaches and tools.