With a growing number of diagnostic tools available for tuberculosis (TB) and drug-resistant TB, the challenge is no longer innovation alone, but how to establish clear frameworks for selecting tools that will have the greatest impact on patient care. As funding becomes tighter, there is increasing emphasis on domestic financing for essential health services. Strategic decision-making is therefore needed not only to identify the most appropriate diagnostic tools, but also to ensure sustained financing for reliable access to testing. This requires looking beyond the test to the broader health system ecosystem that supports effective diagnosis and care.

This session explored two key themes: strategic planning for last-mile logistics and optimisation of national procurement mechanisms. Sydney Chanda, Senior Laboratory Technical Advisor at the Partnership for Supply Chain Management (PFSCM), provided an overview of procurement and supply chain strategies in a decentralised diagnostics landscape. Dr. Tollo Daniel Alphonse, Head of the Pharmacy and Laboratory Section at the National Tuberculosis Control Programme in Cameroon, shared procurement strategies being implemented to support sustainable access to diagnosis and treatment. Dr. Malikath Lawani, Head of the Pharmacy Department and Quality Management Officer at CNHU-PPC in Cotonou, provided Benin’s perspective on strengthening procurement and access to essential diagnostics. See the links below for the recording, presentations, resources, and related publications.