STEPS: A Solution for Ensuring Standards of TB Care for Patients Reaching Private Hospitals in India.

Background: In India, the private sector diagnoses and treats more patients with TB than the public sector. Gaps in the TB care cascade were observed more among the patients diagnosed in the private sector.

Concept: The System for TB Elimination in Private Sector (STEPS) model evolved as a solution to address gaps in the quality of care for patients in the private sector by ensuring standards of TB care. STEPS has 3 components: a consortium of private hospitals, a coalition of all professional medical associations, and a STEPS center in each private hospital. STEPS centers act as a single window for notification, linkage for social welfare measures, contact investigation, chemoprophylaxis, direct benefit transfers, and treatment adherence support.

Intervention: STEPS was piloted in 14 districts in the state of Kerala. All 14 districts formed consortiums of private hospital management for policy support and a coalition of professional medical associations for advocacy with doctors. STEPS centers were established in 318 private hospitals.

Results: Notification to National TB Elimination Program from the private sector improved by 26% when compared to the previous year. Among the patients notified from the private sector, microbiologically confirmed cases increased by 81%, rifampicin resistance testing at baseline increased by 56%, and the percentage of those informed of their HIV status increased by 95%. The percentage of patients notified from the private sector with their treatment outcome reported improved from 39% (2018) to 99% (2019).

Conclusion: The STEPS model demonstrated that a low-cost locally customized private sector engagement model is feasible and is beneficial to society. STEPS could be one of the major solutions for supporting patients reaching the private sector.