The Kyrgyz Republic is one of 30 countries with the highest rates of multiple drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) in the world. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 29 percent of new TB cases in the Kyrgyz Republic are drug-resistant, compared with 3.3 percent worldwide.
What's at stake
Consistent access to and availability of quality diagnostics and medicines is at the heart of effective TB treatment. Delays in diagnosis or lapses in treatment can be life-threatening and accelerate the development of DR-TB. Ensuring that patients can be diagnosed quickly and consistently receive the medicine they need requires strong and resilient supply chains and laboratory networks capable of assuring quality products and services from production to patient.
Consistent access to and availability of quality diagnostics and medicines is at the heart of effective TB treatment.
Project at-a-glance
- Timeline: 2020 – 2024
- Donor: U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)
- Technical areas: Supply chain management, Laboratory systems strengthening, Strategic planning
Project goals and objectives
The USAID Cure Tuberculosis Project, implemented by JSI Research & Training Institute, Inc. (JSI) in partnership with the University Research Co., LLC (URC), USP, and other partners, aims to strengthen the Kyrgyz government’s ability to diagnose, treat and cure people with DR-TB. To support the project, USP is working to:
- Improve TB detection by strengthening the national TB laboratory system.
- Improve TB drug management by strengthening the supply chain to ensure consistent availability of quality TB medicines.
Results
- Developed guidance for good medicine storage and warehouse practices and improved quality control of medical products for state health care organizations, which was adopted by the Ministry of Health across all medicines.
- Assessed the TB supply chain with a specific emphasis on quality assurance aspects
- Designed and conducted a TB laboratory situational analysis to inform revisions to the National Strategy on TB Control.
- Developed new standard operating procedures to assure quality during procurement.
- Completed an assessment and updated the guidelines for the active TB drug-safety monitoring and management system.
- Assessed registration procedures for TB medicines and provided recommendations for improvement
Beyond TB medicines
In the Kyrgyz Republic and Uzbekistan, investments in TB are resulting in broader health benefits, beyond just a single disease.
