Operation ASHA

Their mission is to expand access to services and products of high quality at affordable prices amongst disadvantaged communities worldwide, with a focus on delivery of health services. At the end of FY15, Op ASHA was operating 248 TB treatment centres in India, up from 213 a year ago.

Their 14 point model involves the following treatment methods:

• Following Directly Observed Therapy, Short course (DOTS) therapy
• Work in close collaboration with the National TB programme
• Employ trusted community leaders
• Rapid-response testing and education for patients and their immediate families and friends
• Well-trained corps of local providers
• Over the counter drugs
• Skilled field staff
• Robust feedback
• Strict quality control
• Low-cost operating model
• Sustainability
• E-compliance
• Easy replication
• Urban and Rural Methods

Op ASHA&rsquo,s cost of treating one TB patient is Rs4,800 ($80), approximately 19 times lower than the nearest other provider, its cost of detection is Rs1,620 ($27) per patient, over 32 times lower than programs funded by TB-REACH, its Social Return on Investment is 3,217%, which means that for every rupee invested by a donor, Op ASHA provides a benefit of 32 rupees to the disadvantaged communities, and its cost of preventing one often fatal Multi-Drug Resistant (MDR) TB case is Rs12,000 ($200), 14-50 times lower than treating one MDR patient.

In addition, Op ASHA&rsquo,s methodology has led to exceptionally high detection rates, a treatment success rate of 87%, and a default rate of 3%, in a scenario where there have been reports of at least 32% patient defaults during the 6 ,to 10 ,month long treatment. ,