Managing pharmaceuticals and commodities for tuberculosis: a guide for national tuberculosis programs. Revised.

A typical user of this guide is a National Tuberculosis Program (NTP) stakeholder such as NTP leadership--the director and senior managers from the national and intermediate levels--as well as other Ministry of Health (MOH) units with which the NTP works closely in procuring and financing tuberculosis (TB) medicines or both (for example Directorate of Drugs and Medical Supplies members of Pharmacology Committees). Nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and donors involved in TB control are also likely to benefit from this manual. Users are expected to have varying degrees of background in tuberculosis control and this guide should assist not only those new to TB control but also experienced managers in understanding how good pharmaceutical management can contribute to the outcomes of the TB program. The purpose of this guide is to provide a step-by-step approach reviewing the most critical areas of pharmaceutical management for tuberculosis. With the guide users should be able to identify key weaknesses in their system and mechanisms to overcome weaknesses in selection procurement distribution timely use and management support of TB medicines. (excerpt)