BPaL OR holds its first Project Implementation
Review

One year into the BPaL Operational Research (OR) implementation, an online Project Implementation Review (PIR) was held on January 28, 2022 spearheaded by the Research Team.  The PIR aimed at assessing the accomplishments of the OR from January to December 2021 vis-a-vis targets set out in the Implementation Plan, identifying facilitating factors, challenges and lessons learned with the provision of technical and administrative assistance, towards the goal of further improving its implementation.

The PIR gathered a total of 169 participants, counterparts and partners across all levels of  the National TB Control Program (NTP) network which included the OR sites, Lung Center Management Office for Research and Training (LCP-MO), NTP, Centers for Health Development, National TB Reference Laboratory (NTRL), Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP), TB People Philippines and Tropical Disease Foundation, Inc (TDF), and international partners such as  KNCV, International TB Research Center (ITRC) and World Health Organization (WHO).

Dr. Winston Palasi, Medical Officer IV, Infectious Disease Division of the Department of Health welcomed the participants on behalf of the NTP. Dr Irene Flores, BPaL Principal Investigator, presented an overview and updates of the OR which was followed by messages from focal points of key partners such as the NTRL (Dr. Ramon Basilio), TDF (Maricel Trono), PBSP (Syrus Silvestre) and TB Medical Advisory Committee (Dr. Marietta Solante).  TB People Philippines, spearheaded the video presentations of testimonials from OR site staff and BPaL treatment patient ‘graduates’ and shared their perspectives of the BPaL regimen led by Eloisa Teng.  Dr Mamel Quelapio, LIFT-TB Consultant for ITRC and KNCV, gave a keynote message highlighting the OR achievements and appreciation for the hard work of the Research Team, and the support of the NTP, ITRC and all partners involved in the OR.   Dr Veriko Mirtskhulava, KNCV Epidemiologist, explained the project indicators for treatment coverage, effectiveness and safety.  Breakout sessions and then a plenary of clinical scenarios was conducted applying and discussing actual cases encountered in the BPaL OR.  Questions and answers during the plenary can be found in this link:  Questions and Answers raised during the BPaL OR Project Implementation Review- Philippines

The BPaL OR has enrolled 27 patients to date and targets to reach 100 enrollees within this year.