Health Service Contracting in the Prevention and Treatment of Tuberculosis: A Scoping Review

Tuberculosis (TB) continues to be a worldwide health issue that demands a comprehensive and coordinated approach to management. The complexity of TB control requires cross-sector involvement, including collaboration with non-governmental organizations and the private sector. One widely applied approach is health service contracting to provide TB health services. This study aims to provide insight into the best practices of health service contracting in TB management that can be adopted to accelerate TB elimination at the national and global levels. This study used a scoping review method concerning the 2020 PRISMA Flow Diagram guidelines. Article searches were carried out systematically through SAGE Journals, ScienceDirect, PubMed, Scopus, EBSCO, and Cambridge Core databases. Articles were selected based on predetermined inclusion and exclusion criteria. A total of 10 articles were selected and analyzed to identify the contribution of health service contracting in TB management. The results showed that the involvement of the private sector, civil society organizations, and non-governmental institutions increased service coverage, reached populations that were difficult to access, and accelerated the process of detecting and treating TB cases. Several studies also reported increased case reporting, treatment adherence, and efficiency in resource use. Health service contracting is a potential strategy for strengthening the TB service system. With the involvement of various parties, this approach can strengthen the national response to TB and contribute to global efforts to eliminate TB.