Learning from the Frontlines: PeerLINC Hosts Polish Delegation for Immersive DR-TB Training in the Philippines
In March 2026, PeerLINC hosted a delegation of Polish tuberculosis (TB) health professionals for an intensive clinical immersion focused on drug-resistant TB (DR-TB) management within the Philippine healthcare setting. The team - comprising Doctors Jakub Wyrwiński, Bogusz Aksak-Wąs, Julia Jaszak, and nurse Mr. Mateusz Bruss - participated in a comprehensive program that included regimen reviews, facility tours, case discussions, work shadowing, and active involvement in a Tuberculosis Medical Advisory Committee (TB-MAC) call to discuss complex cases. Led by the PeerLINC team, the immersion featured rich interactions with Filipino colleagues and key health teams from the Tropical Disease Foundation (TDF) in Makati City, as well as the Jose B. Lingad Memorial General Hospital (JB Lingad) and San Luis Rural Health Unit, both located in Pampanga province.
These diverse settings provided the Polish delegation with a well-rounded perspective on DR-TB treatment delivery. At TDF, they observed how care is managed in a private healthcare environment, while visits to JB Lingad and San Luis showcased DR-TB treatment implementation across the public health sector; from a regional tertiary hospital to a community-based grassroots health center.
Notably, this exchange reversed the traditional North-to-South flow of knowledge. Filipino clinicians, drawing on their experience managing one of the world’s highest TB burdens, led the learning process. Their frontline expertise sparked meaningful discussions on best practices for current treatment regimens, as well as critical challenges such as resource limitations, healthcare workforce shortages, and the potential of conflict-driven migration to impact the TB landscape in Poland, where the disease has been relatively uncommon.
Given that DR-TB remains a pressing global public health threat, such immersion activities are invaluable. They provide timely, practical solutions for managing difficult cases and strengthen international collaboration.
Supported by the Australian Government through AusAID, TB Alliance, and the Tropical Disease Foundation, PeerLINC leverages clinical immersion and other innovative knowledge transfer models to bridge the gap between theory, innovation, and real-world impact. By fostering peer-to-peer learning, the program empowers DR-TB health teams to respond faster and more effectively, accelerating progress toward ending TB worldwide.
