TBPPM Virtual Town Hall 2025

The TBPM Learning Network's 2025 Town Hall meeting celebrated the organization's six-year history and achievements, while exploring future initiatives and announcing sustainability plans. The conversation ended with discussions about the network's future evolution, including new partnerships for continued learning, action, and evidence synthesis in private sector engagement and tuberculosis service delivery. 

Petra welcomed attendees to the TBPM Learning Network's 2025 Town Hall, noting it would be the last in the current constellation. She outlined the agenda and the aim to reflect on the year's achievements and the network's six-year history, while also exploring future initiatives and sustainability plans for the TBPM Learning Network. 

TB Innovation and South-South Partnerships – Introduction by Dr Pai 

Madhukar acknowledged Petra's significant contributions over six years in building and maintaining the community, despite challenges like COVID and current global health funding cuts. He highlighted the need for Global South countries to invest more in TB and integrate it into primary care, emphasizing the importance of affordable innovations from the Global South. Madhukar expressed optimism about South-South partnerships and encouraged everyone to continue supporting the TB agenda in these challenging times. 

TBPPM Learning Network: 6 years – presentation Petra Heitkamp 

The TBPM Learning Network, established in 2019, has grown to include over 6,000 individuals and organizations focused on tuberculosis and private provider engagement. Over the past six years, the network has developed a south-to-south learning framework, emphasizing frontline providers and informal networks, with significant participation from low- and middle-income countries. Despite funding challenges in 2025, the network has maintained its focus on inclusive and implementer-led content. Over the past six years a shift has been seen towards more representation from the Global South and increased female participation in speakers and leadership roles within the TB community at large. 

Reflections on TBPPM LN achievements and way forward – by Guy Stallworthy 

Guy expressed satisfaction with the Gates Foundation's support for the project, highlighting its success in fostering south-to-south exchange among implementers. He emphasized the importance of practical, lived experience in implementing public health programs, noting that the project has successfully produced over 100 PPM leaders from the Global South. While acknowledging challenges such as integration with UHC/PHC and the need for multiplex technologies, Guy viewed these as opportunities for growth. He encouraged in-person cross-visits and expressed hope that Global South implementers could continue this dynamic work independently, despite the reduction in development assistance. The transition to domestic funding for PPM (Private-Public Mix) work in tuberculosis control is key, with Guy highlighting India as an exemplar of this shift.  

“As an organization implementing TB PPM for 20 years, it used to be lonely to share experiences. The TBPPM Learning Network gave us that community — a place to connect, share experiences, and learn from others. Implementation was happening in isolation across the world, and TBPPM connected us. That is a big outcome. You gave us a community to connect to; we feel part of the whole private sector movement and we do not feel alone. It’s been a fantastic experience. We need to keep that community alive — the private sector is going to be there forever, next to the public sector. This applies beyond TB. A PPM learning network can exist for any condition affecting communities. It’s about a sense of belonging and a sense of community.” 
— Ramya Ananthakrishnan, TBPPM Learning Network Town Hall