Evidence-to-action: Public–Private Partnership Needs Assessment in an Eastern Indian State Under the National Tuberculosis Elimination Program

Abstract Introduction: The National Strategic Plan (2017–2025) emphasizes private sector engagement as one of India’s most important components of tuberculosis (TB) elimination efforts. A needs assessment was conducted to understand the public–private partnership needs for TB care in Odisha. Materials and Methods: The study adopted a mixed-method approach and was carried out during June–July 2023. The quantitative evaluation included a desk review of key performance indicators of the National TB Elimination Program (NTEP) based on Nikshay portal data of all the 31 districts of the state and the qualitative assessment is based on the primary data collected through focus group discussions and key informant telephonic interviews across 18 districts, 13 districts were excluded from the evaluation owing to low potential of private sector engagement based on annual TB notification target. Results: The analysis of both the primary and secondary data helped to find several partnership options. Of the total 19 partnership options that were felt needed across 18 districts, Patient Provider Support Agency (PPSA) (15.78%, n = 3), Advocacy Communication and Community Engagement (31.57%, n = 6), Active Case Finding (21.05%, n = 4), Specimen management (5.26%, n = 1), Diagnostic services (4.35%, n = 1), Public Health Action (5.26%, n = 1), Treatment services (5.26%, n = 1) and Drug access and Delivery (5.26%, n = 1) were the five different categories opted. However, 4 districts expressed no need for any partnership options. Furthermore, the Promoting Action on Research Implementation in Health Service framework was used to delineate the process of evidence to action. One PPSA partnership option was included in the program implementation plan (PIP) of the current biennium approved by the National Health Mission. Conclusion: The needs assessment should be conducted before the PIP so that the same can be included on time. The program manager must carry out the assessment every year as suggested in the Partnership Guidance Document 2019.