ACCESS TB Project

19/08/2026

As part of its efforts to strengthen TB diagnostic services, PBSP ACCESS TB, in partnership with the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine-National TB Reference Laboratory (RITM-NTRL), recently conducted the Near Point-of-Care Nucleic Acid Amplification Test (nPOC-NAAT) Training in Davao City.

nPOC-NAAT is a molecular diagnostic test that detects Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB), allowing faster TB diagnosis. By bringing this test closer to communities, it helps make TB diagnosis more accessible and supports timely diagnosis.

The RITM-NTRL trained 146 medical technologists from the six administrative regions in Mindanao, equipping them with the knowledge and skills needed to support the effective implementation of nPOC-NAAT in their respective areas.

The training focused on strengthening laboratory capacity, standardizing specimen collection and management, and highlighting proper specimen processing.

Through continuous capacity-building initiatives, PBSP ACCESS TB continues to support the National TB Program in strengthening diagnostic services and expanding access to quality, timely, and patient-centered TB care.

28/07/2026

As part of its continuing commitment to end tuberculosis (TB) in the country, Philippine Business for Social Progress, through its ACCESS TB Project, recently turned over an Ultra-Portable Chest X-Ray machine with Computer-Aided Detection Artificial Intelligence (CAD-AI) to the Baguio Health Services Office.

The Ultra-Portable Chest X-Ray is an innovative diagnostic technology that enables TB screening to be brought directly to communities, including geographically isolated and hard-to-reach areas. By making early detection more accessible, this technology helps identify individuals who may have tuberculosis, allowing them to receive timely diagnosis and treatment while strengthening community-based TB care and reducing delays in access to essential health services.

The turnover and signing of the agreement were led by PBSP Executive Director Elvin Ivan Y. Uy, Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong, Baguio City Health Officer Dr. Celia Flor Brillantes, and PBSP Strategy and Area Manager Jerome Triñona.

This initiative is made possible through the support of The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, reinforcing collective efforts to strengthen TB case detection, expand access to quality healthcare services, and build healthier, TB-free communities across the country.

14/04/2026

PBSP ACCESS TB Project recently participated in the Department of Health–Health Promotion Bureau’s first DOH Kalusugan Convention 2026 in Taguig City. The event aims to align the collective efforts of public and private sectors in advancing community health initiatives and nationwide health literacy activities.

The event recognized the vital role of the private sector, development agencies, and civil society organizations in nation-building, particularly in addressing communicable and non-communicable diseases, promoting healthy lifestyles, and strengthening family health initiatives.

Beyond its tuberculosis program, PBSP ACCESS TB also supported the Department of Health’s initiatives on Maternal and Sexual and Reproductive Health, WASH and Environmental Health, and Immunization underscoring its commitment to advancing comprehensive, inclusive, and sustainable health programs for Filipino communities.

31/03/2026

In the Davao region, more than 2,490 persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) and jail personnel were provided access to free chest X-ray screening and TB symptom assessment through the Active Case Finding (ACF) initiative during the commemoration of the World TB Day. This effort aims to bring essential TB services directly to high-risk and underserved populations, particularly those in congested facility-based settings.

The PBSP ACCESS TB Project, in partnership with the Department of Health – Center for Health Development (DOH-CHD) Davao Region, local City Health Offices, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), and Bureau of Corrections (BuCor), successfully identified 238 presumptive TB cases across participating jail facilities. These individuals are now being linked to confirmatory diagnostic services, including sputum testing, to ensure timely treatment and care.

The ACF activities were conducted across multiple facilities in the region, including the BJMP Female Dormitory and Annex, Davao Prison and Penal Farm – College Behind Bars, Davao del Norte Tagum City Jail, Davao de Oro BJMP Montevista, Davao Oriental Mati Provincial Jail, and the Davao del Sur Provincial Rehabilitation Center. These coordinated efforts highlight the importance of multi-sectoral collaboration in addressing TB in high-risk environments.

PBSP ACCESS TB will continue to strengthen collaboration with national and local government units, civil society organizations, and development partners to expand access to quality TB services, enhance case detection, and support the country’s goal of eliminating tuberculosis.

27/03/2026

As part of the World TB Day commemoration, PBSP ACCESS TB Project, in partnership with the Department of Health (Philippines) and the Philippine Coalition Against Tuberculosis (PhilCAT), recently conducted an Active Case Finding (ACF) activity at the Correctional Institution for Women in Mandaluyong City.

Aligned with this year’s theme, “Yes! Pilipinas can : Magpasuri, Magpagamot, at Mag-TPTodo para Protektado,” the initiative aimed to bring essential tuberculosis (TB) services closer to high-risk and vulnerable populations. A total of 1,300 Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDLs) and jail personnel were provided access to free chest X-ray screening and TB symptom assessment. Through this effort, more than 90 individuals were identified as presumptive TB cases and are now scheduled to undergo confirmatory sputum testing for proper diagnosis and treatment.

This activity highlights the importance of early detection and timely intervention, particularly in high-density settings such as correctional facilities, where the risk of TB transmission is significantly higher. By proactively identifying and managing cases, the initiative contributes to breaking the chain of transmission and ensuring that no one is left behind in the fight against TB.

As the project continues, PBSP ACCESS TB remains committed to strengthening partnerships with government agencies, civil society organizations, and development partners to sustain and scale up effective TB interventions. These efforts are crucial in advancing equitable access to quality TB services and moving the country closer to achieving a TB-free Philippines.

26/03/2026

The Department of Health–Bureau of Local Health Systems Development (DOH-LHSD) and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), in partnership with PBSP ACCESS TB, recently launched the Guidebook on Operationalizing the Local Health Board. This initiative brought together leaders, stakeholders, and community representatives to align priorities, mobilize resources, and ensure that health services respond effectively to the evolving needs of every community.

In 2024, PBSP ACCESS TB supported the development of the guidebook—from the engagement of a Local Health Board Handbook consultant, to the conduct of consultative meetings, and the pre-testing of the LHB Operations Guide and its reference materials. This initiative is a critical step toward strengthening local health systems and empowering Local Government Units (LGUs) to take a more proactive and coordinated role in health governance.

The Guidebook on Operationalizing the Local Health Board is designed for local chief executives, health officers, Local Health Board (LHB) members, and other LGU stakeholders, including community-based organizations (CBOs), as part of its governance framework. It provides clear and practical guidance on the structure, composition, and functions of Local Health Boards. More importantly, the guidebook promotes more responsive, inclusive, and accountable decision-making at the local level, supporting the effective implementation of Universal Health Care reforms.

24/03/2026

As we commemorate World TB Day, we reaffirm our shared commitment to end tuberculosis and ensure that every Filipino has access to timely, quality, and life-saving care.

This year’s theme, “Yes! Pilipinas can : Magpasuri, Magpagamot, at Mag-TPTodo para Protektado,” underscores the country’s strong national commitment to eliminating TB. The Department of Health (Philippines), in partnership with PBSP ACCESS TB, highlights the urgency of sustained and collective action to treat and prevent the spread of the disease.

In 2025, significant strides have been made through the collaborative efforts of partners across sectors—reaching over 520,000 individuals with TB services, notifying more than 550,000 TB cases in all forms, successfully treating over 453,000 people, and achieving an 87.05% treatment success rate.

As the project enters the final year of the grant cycle, PBSP ACCESS TB will continue to strengthen partnerships with the government, civil society, and development partners to sustain and scale effective TB interventions nationwide.

Together, we move towards a future where TB is no longer a public health threat.

23/03/2026

24/02/2026

In the early years of the pandemic, The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria launched the COVID-19 Response Mechanism (C19RM) to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 while safeguarding and strengthening essential health services in the Philippines.

As the C19RM grant concludes after five years, PBSP has helped strengthen disease surveillance, improve health data management, enhance laboratory diagnostics, optimize supply chain systems, and reinforce health workforce capacities nationwide.

PBSP, through its C19RM grant, extends its heartfelt gratitude to its partner agencies from the Department of Health (Philippines), Department of Health – Epidemiology Bureau (DOH-EB), Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM), Department of Health – Office for Health Laboratories (DOH-OHL), Department of Health – Knowledge Management and Information Technology Service (DOH-KMITS), and Department of Health – Bureau of Local Health Systems Development (DOH-BLSHD) for their collaboration and dedication in achieving these milestones.

Looking forward, PBSP remains committed to sustaining these gains, nurturing strong partnerships, and investing in resilient health systems to ensure a healthier, safer, and more secure future for every Filipino.

25/12/2025

Merry Christmas and an advanced Happy New Year from your PBSP ACCESS TB family! 🎄✨

We are grateful to our partners and communities for their continued commitment to ending TB and strengthening our country's health systems.