Dr. Paula Fujiwara

Paula Fujiwara (IUATLD)

Paula Fujiwara, MD, MPH, MSDeputy Executive Director, IUATLD

Dr. Paula Fujiwara (Deputy Director, IUATLD) relating her experiences in New York City from 1979-1999, pointed out that there the private sector was involved in case reporting, treatment, case management and professional education.She maintained that it was always desirable for the public sector to improve its services first before addressing the private sector in the implementation of standardized clinical policies and procedures.She remarked that TB programme philosophy should emphasize service of a very high standard, so that the public sector has some credibility in its ability to take care of TB patients. The presentations were followed by an intense 2-hour discussion session on public-private collaboration on DOTS in Karachi.

Mr Eli Roset Ongang, right, the District TB and Leprosy Supervisor for Apac District, and Paula Fujiwara, Deputy Director of IUATLD visit the Apac District Hospital and Laboratory during a monitoring visit by IUATLD.

Signing the agreement on behalf of the IUATLD, Deputy Executive Director Paula Fujiwara said the grant will benefit both patients and the health care system.