“TB research can be a powerful advocacy tool,” said Dr. Jaime C. Montoya, Executive Director of the Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (PCHRD) in the recent national health research forum of the University of the Philippines Manila – National Institutes of Health (UPM-NIH) last February 23, 2012.

Tuberculosis (TB) is the sixth leading cause of mortality in the country with 33 deaths per 100,000 population (Philippine Health Statistics 2003). TB is also ranked sixth in terms of morbidity with 137 cases per 100,000 population (Field Health Service Information System 2005).

Philippines ranks ninth among the 22 high burden countries in the world in 2009, from a previous 8th in 2003 and 7th in 2000.  In the Western Pacific region, the country ranks third from a previous second in 2003 (WHO Report 2007 & 2009).

How does TB research help in advocacy?

“TB Research can encompass any gathering of data or information, or use of scientific or analytical tools to inform advocacy efforts or inform policy deliberations,” said Dr. Montoya.

Two of the global TB research gaps identified include the need for new and effective drugs, diagnostics and vaccines to improve case detection and treatment of TB and the need to arm TB-affected individuals with appropriate knowledge on TB to reduce stigma and discrimination.

“In the Philippine National Health Research System (PNHRS), we make sure that TB control is integrated in the priorities of the National Unified Health Research Agenda (NUHRA),” Dr. Montoya stressed.

NUHRA specifies the areas and topics that need to be addressed in the next five years in line with global and national initiatives influencing the health sector. It serves as a guide for the health research community on the research studies that should be undertaken to address the health needs of the Filipinos.

Dr. Montoya shared that in the area of TB research, there are consultative meetings spearheaded by the Philippine Coalition Against Tuberculosis (PhilCAT) in 2008 and they came up with a list of priorities for TB prevention and control. Areas of TB research covers the whole continuum from fundamental or basic research to operational research.

From the gaps identified, Dr. Montoya proposed action points to advocate for TB research: 1) develop a coherent and comprehensive research roadmap towards TB elimination; 2) engage in more research collaborations on TB to accelerate the generation of new knowledge and new tools for TB prevention and control; and 3) mobilize resources and support for TB research.