Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #118408

Marilou P. Costello, PhD, Philippine Tuberculosis Initiatives for the Private Sector, Chemonics International Inc., Unit 1608 West Tower, PSEC Building, Exchange Road, Ortigas Center, Pasig City, 1605, Philippines, 6326877135, mcostello@philtips.com, Andre Villanueva, MD, Philippine Tuberculosis Initiatives for the Private Sector (Philippine TIPS)/Chemonics International Inc., 1608 West Tower, Philippine Stock Exchange Center, Ortigas Center, Pasig, Philippines, and Bonita Mangura, MD, National Tuberculosis Center, New Jersey Medical School, 225 Warren Street, 2nd Floor, East Wing, Newark, NJ 07103.

Background: PhilTIPS® is a USAID funded program to strengthen TB control in the private sector in the Philippines. The objective was to create Pharmacy Public-Private-Mix (PPM) model and enable private practice environment of DOTS.

Design/Methods: Needs assessment, education and training materials development were conducted on pharmacies in seven cities. Participants included clients, pharmacists, assistants (PA) and owners; validation visits with a ‘mystery shopper' were conducted. Training modules for pharmacy master trainors and pharmacists were based on survey findings. Pharmacy owners and health department representatives were engaged by participation prior to model implementation.

Results: The surveys showed: 92% of respondents were unable to correctly answer questions on TB transmission; 84% pharmacists and 87% PA's have not heard of ‘DOTS'; 86% pharmacists and PAs claim to ask for prescriptions before dispensing. Validation shows: 60% of 140 pharmacies asked for anti-TB prescriptions; 51% sold anti-TB drugs to ‘mystery shopper' without a prescription. Advocacy with stakeholders resulted in acceptance to participate in pharmacy DOTS models.

Conclusion: Pharmacists are potential partners as private providers of TB patients in the Philippines. Baseline TB knowledge of pharmacy providers are insufficient. Advocacy results in mobilization of large chain stakeholders to utilize pharmacy encounters as teaching opportunity for provider and patients in a new PPM model.

Learning Objectives:

• To demonstrate that pharmacists can be effective private sector partners in TB control

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.

Recorded presentation