TB Case Management Conference

Overview

Tuberculosis (TB) remains one of the leading infectious diseases worldwide, and effective case management is essential to achieve the World Health Organizations End TB Strategy. The TB Case Management Conference (TBCMC) is an annual gathering that brings together clinicians, program managers, policymakers, researchers, and civilsociety representatives to share experiences, discuss challenges, and coordinate actions for improving TB patient care.

The conference is typically organized by national TB programs, regional health bodies, or international partners such as the WHO, Stop TB Partnership, and major NGOs. It serves as a platform for evidencebased discussion, capacity building, and alignment of resources across the continuum of carefrom diagnosis and treatment initiation to completion and posttreatment followup.

Core Objectives

• Knowledge Exchange: Present the latest data on TB epidemiology, drugresistant trends, and emerging diagnostics.
• Policy Alignment: Harmonize national guidelines with international standards and adapt them to local contexts.
• Capacity Strengthening: Train health workers on patientcentred case management, infection control, and use of digital tools.
• Stakeholder Coordination: Foster collaboration among public, private, and community sectors.
• Monitoring & Evaluation: Review program performance, identify gaps, and set measurable targets.

Typical Agenda

A twoday conference usually follows this structure:

1. Day 1 Epidemiology & Surveillance
   • Opening remarks & keynote address
   • Country/region TB burden overview
   • Data quality & digital surveillance tools
2. Day 1 Diagnosis & Treatment
   • Advances in rapid molecular testing
   • Management of drugresistant TB
   • Shortcourse regimens and patient adherence
3. Day 2 Case Management Strategies
   • Patientcentred care models
   • Directly observed therapy (DOT) versus digital adherence tools
   • Addressing comorbidities (HIV, diabetes, smoking)
4. Day 2 CrossSector Collaboration
   • Privatesector engagement
   • Communityled advocacy and support groups
   • Financing mechanisms and resource mobilisation
5. Closing Session
   • Summary of commitments
   • Action plan development
   • Evaluation and feedback

Key Participants

The success of a TBCMC hinges on involving a diverse set of stakeholders:

• Government Officials: Heads of national TB programs, health ministry representatives, and policy advisors.
• Clinical Experts: Pulmonologists, infectious disease specialists, and primarycare physicians.
• Public Health Professionals: Epidemiologists, data managers, and programme officers.
• PrivateSector Partners: Pharmacy chains, private hospitals, and diagnostic companies.
• Civil Society: Patient advocacy groups, NGOs, and community health workers.
• Researchers & Academics: Experts in TB microbiology, pharmacology, and health systems.
• Donors & Funders: International agencies, bilateral donors, and philanthropic foundations.

Best Practices Highlighted at Recent Conferences

These examples illustrate how innovative, patientcentred approaches can be scaled up when supported by robust policy frameworks and sustainable financing.

Expected Outcomes

• Revised national TB casemanagement guidelines reflecting latest WHO recommendations.
• Actionable workplan with defined responsibilities, timelines, and performance indicators.
• Strengthened data systems for realtime monitoring of case detection and treatment outcomes.
• Formal agreements for publicprivate partnership to expand access to quality diagnostics.
• Enhanced capacity of frontline workers through postconference training modules.

Resources for Participants

After the conference, participants typically receive:

• Full conference proceedings (PDF)
• Slide decks of all presentations
• Toolkits on patientcentred case management
• Links to WHO technical guidance and regional policy briefs
• Access to an online community of practice for continuous knowledge sharing