The Philippine Coalition Against Tuberculosis (PhilCAT) received a grant from the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GFATM) to implement Public – Private Mix DOTS (PPMD) in the Philippines. This activity is being undertaken by PhilCAT in collaboration with the Department of Health (DOH) and the World Health Organization (WHO).

The overall goal of the PPMD project is to increase TB case detection, improve cure rate and synchronize the management of TB in the public and private health sectors. PhilCAT started implementing the PPMD project in November 2003 and is now on its second year of implementation.

In its first year, Regional Coordinating Committees on PPMD (RCC – PPMD) were established in the regions of Cagayan Valley, CALABARZON, Western Visayas, Northern Mindanao and Davao. Seven PPMD Units were also installed in the same year. In August 2004, the project expanded to three more regions and established RCC – PPMD in Bicol, Central Visayas and CARAGA. There were 21 new PPMD Units installed across eight regions for Year Two.

At present, PhilCAT, in partnership with DOH, WHO, the Centers for Health Development (CHD), local government units (LGU), the private sector, academe and nongovernment organizations, is working toward engaging more private players in PPMD.