TB case notification by private health-sector; retrospective study in 13 metro districts of Pakistan.

Objective: To evaluate the impact of structured engagement of private providers in tuberculosis case notification and to investigate demographic profile, disease pattern and treatment outcome of tuberculosis patients seeking care from private care providers.

Methods: This retrospective study was carried out in 13 districts of Pakistan with the data of tuberculosis patients registered and diagnosed from July 2015 to June 2016 at directly observed treatment, short-course trained private providers. These facilities in collaboration with Greenstar Social Marketing Pakistan, a private organisation and the National Tuberculosis Control Programme, Pakistan, provided free anti-tuberculosis drugs and sputum smear microscopy.