Bangladesh TB Leaders Build Momentum for Shorter, Safer Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis Treatment

Capacity building program in the Philippines empowers Bangladesh NTP managers to scale up BPaLM/BPaL regimens

MAKATI CITY, PHILIPPINES—PeerLINC Knowledge Hub recently welcomed a delegation from Bangladesh’s National Tuberculosis Program (NTP) to a weeklong capacity-building program aimed at accelerating the country’s transition to shorter, safer treatment regimens for drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB). Held from 22 to 25 July 2025 at the Somerset Millenium, Makati, the training combined interactive lectures, workshops, and field visits across Metro Manila to offer a comprehensive view of implementing the WHO-recommended six-month BPaLM/BPaL regimens. 

This training emphasized PeerLINC’s peer-to-peer model of knowledge exchange that links country experiences, national policies, and frontline program realities in pursuit of a common goal to globally end tuberculosis.

Bangladesh NTP managers participated in intensive workshops that addressed the clinical, laboratory, programmatic, and social dimensions critical to the successful rollout of the new regimen. The sessions also emphasized the integration of gender equality, disability, and social inclusion (GEDSI) into treatment planning and implementation.

To complement the workshops, participants took part in field visits to observe how BPaLM/BPaL is being operationalized at the clinic level. These included visits to the Tropical Disease Foundation’s Programmatic Management of Drug-resistant Tuberculosis (PMDT) clinic and the Bangkal Health Center, both located in Makati.

Bangladesh NTP delegates engage in an onsite briefing at the Tropical Disease Foundation’s PMDT clinic in Makati. The field visit offered firsthand insights into the operationalization of the BPaLM/BPaL regimen at the clinic level.

“This has been a highly effective training led by experienced mentors whose guidance has enriched our understanding of programmatic and clinical approaches to DR-TB,” said Dr. Md Zahangir Kabir, Head of the National Tuberculosis Program of Bangladesh. “The Philippine model demonstrated how TB services can be better integrated into broader health systems; an approach we are actively working toward in Bangladesh. We return home better equipped, not only with knowledge, but with renewed commitment to deliver safer, shorter regimens to our communities.”

Dr. Golam Sarwar Bhuiyan exchanges insights with Dr. Jed Solo Culata of the Bangkal Health Center in Makati. The field visit allowed participants to observe patient management workflows and discuss practical challenges in DR-TB treatment delivery.

“This training empowered us not just with knowledge, but with the practical tools, peer insights, and confidence needed to deliver DR-TB care more effectively. The case discussions were especially impactful, bringing to light the human side of treatment challenges–something textbooks can’t capture,” shared Dr. Khaled Bin Yousef, Director of Programmes at Nari Maitree, one of Bangladesh’s leading non-governmental organizations working to address urban poverty and health, and an implementing partner of the Fast Track the Cure initiative.

Throughout the week, the Bangladesh team drafted a country action plan to guide the phased introduction of BPaLM/BPaL across its DR-TB program. Discussions included supply chain planning, diagnostic protocols, and mechanisms for inclusive decision-making. The training closed with a post-evaluation session, participant feedback, and the awarding of certificates.

“Bangladesh’s leadership in TB control is clear, and this program has only strengthened it. What we witnessed over the course of the week was not just knowledge exchange, but co-creation of practical solutions that are grounded in shared values of equity and innovation. This is what PeerLINC was designed for: to enable countries to lead boldly, with evidence and with heart,” said PeerLINC  Head, Dr. Eden Mendoza-Hisey.

Dr. Eden Mendoza-Hisey delivers a session on inclusive DR-TB treatment planning during the capacity-building workshop for Bangladesh NTP managers held in Makati.

The program exemplified PeerLINC’s mission to strengthen implementation capacity in high TB-burden settings by fostering collaboration, mutual learning, and peer-led technical exchange. For the Bangladesh NTP, the training marked a crucial step in its preparation to expand access to shorter, all-oral DR-TB treatments aligned with global standards that ultimately improve outcomes for patients across the country.