<p>Tuberculosis – a contagious and potentially life threatening disease, is one of the top 10 causes of death worldwide. According to the World Health Organization, 150,000 new Tuberculosis (TB) cases emerge in Pakistan every year. Unfortunately, globally, Pakistan is also estimated to have the fourth highest prevalence of multi-drug resistant TB (MDR-TB, where the bacteria remains unaffected by the drug that may cure the disease). In Pakistan, often this disease is diagnosed at a very late stage as there is resistance in the population against diagnosis and treatment. This, coupled with inadequate and inappropriate drug regime, further increases the spread and prevalence of the disease in the country. </p><div>In view of these circumstances, there is an established need of expanding partnerships to support programmes in controlling the disease in the country. Hence, in May 2017 a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Aga Khan University Hospital and Medical College Foundation (AKHMCF) and the Provincial TB Control Programme (PTP) Sindh, to fight against TB. Both the organizations work on the mutual objective of fighting against the disease and collaborate to extend their available resources. </div><div>
</div><div>This initiative is in line with the National Tuberculosis Control Programme (NTP) plan of establishing 30 TB treatment sites all over the country through the Global Fund Resources. Currently 1,494 patients, including adults and children, have been registered under this programme with the Treatment and Referral Centre of Tuberculosis at the Aga Khan University Hospital. </div><div>
The Aga Khan University Hospital strives to maintain the highest standards of quality and care for all patients and aims to improve the healthcare outcomes in Pakistan. With this aim, moving forward, the scope of this partnership will be expanded to the community through the AKUH Medical Centres which are located throughout Pakistan, with plans to establish an online teaching module for General Practitioners throughout Pakistan on the request of the National TB Programme. </div><div>
</div><div>The Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH) is a not-for-profit, private healthcare network with a quaternary care hospital, 4 secondary care hospitals, over 25 Medical Centres, and over 270 Clinical Laboratories in over 117 cities across Pakistan.
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