Professor Abu Abdullah led a multi-country study that examined the health system efficiencies in integrated public health and primary care addressing tuberculosis (TB) and diabetes mellitus (DM) comorbidities in six Asian countries including Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, Nepal, and the Philippines. The dual burden of TB and diabetes is a major global concern in public health and a critical challenge in low- and middle-income countries.

 

This multi-country study, completed in 18 months with collaboration from researchers in participating countries, explored the available policy initiatives and service provisions to address TB-DM comorbidity within the existing healthcare systems of these countries, documented potential health system challenges for integrated care for TB-DM co-morbidity, and made recommendations for potential policy initiatives. The study was funded by the Asia-Pacific Observatory on Health Systems and Policy (APO) of the World Health Organization (WHO).