Strengthening health professional associations to enable them to contribute to TB control

1. Strengthening health professional associations to enable them to contribute to TB control Group 2 Facilitators: Dr Nevin Wilson, The Union and Dr Pierre-Yves Norval, WHO/HQ

2. Summary of Discussion • Professional associations are rather at an academic level – how to bring interface with NTP – need to transition to public health • Starting point: Identify possible role the professional associations can have • Series of steps: • Situation analysis, identify problems • Think how to work together – develop interests within associations : ISTC • Develop objectives of collaboration • Process: TOR, MOU • Need to have structure within NTP + Med Associations to oversee the functions • Challenge: • What in countries where no strong professional association ? • Should NTP initiate the collaboration? Yes, but not forming associations • What in countries where many associations – India: IMA accepted to form coalition among other organizations • Sensitivities between MOH and national medical associations • Lower income versus higher responsibilities with NTP collaboration • Myanmar: CCM = country leadership in recognizing medical associations • Chair : Minister • Vice Chair: MMA • Suggestion to start at Medical Schools to sensitize future members of professional associations • Suggestion to organize and train groups for case holding (Red Cross, youth groups, …) • Need to have consensus on ‘think globally’ but countries themselves ‘act locally’ • Start sensitization, then progress to training • Advocacy role in legislation (for example drug policy) • Advocacy role in guiding Government policy

3. Strengthening health professional associations