Engaging hospitals to meet tuberculosis control targets in China: using the Internet as a tool to put policy into practice

摘要: Tuberculosis (TB) services in China are provided through a large network of TB dispensaries. Even though hospitals not as well placed to follow recommended standards care, significant proportion people with symptoms seek care from hospitals. In spite having policy and mandate place, the Ministry Health had little success encouraging refer suspected cases Following epidemic severe acute respiratory syndrome 2003, government set up nationwide Internet-based communicable diseases reporting system. This achieved productive collaboration between From 2004 2007, percentage suspects patients needing referral who arrived dispensaries increased substantially 58.7% 77.8% contribution diagnosing sputum smear-positive doubled 16.3% 32.9%. Using system, contributed finding about one third all helped meet global control target detecting 70% such cases. Based on data available routine surveillance facilitated by this paper details process outcomes strengthening using Internet tool its potential application other country settings.