Pilot testing of the innovative Video-Assisted Treatment (VAT) Platform for tuberculosis patients has begun in Ashgabat. The new system, launched at the Tuberculosis Prevention and Treatment Center of the Directorate of Infectious Disease Centers, allows patients to confirm medication intake remotely via video, which significantly simplifies the outpatient treatment process, according to a statement from UNDP in Turkmenistan.

Before the platform was introduced, TB patients had to regularly visit TB rooms in outpatient clinics to take medications under the supervision of medical staff. Now, after registering on the platform through their attending physician or nurse, patients can take medications at home, documenting the process via video communication.

This project is of particular importance for vulnerable groups of the population: the elderly, women with children, people with disabilities, as well as patients with drug-resistant tuberculosis from remote regions of Turkmenistan, for whom regular visits to medical institutions present a serious challenge.

For healthcare workers, the introduction of VAT opens up new opportunities: better control over medication intake, reduced burden on healthcare facilities, and increased overall therapy effectiveness. After the successful completion of the pilot stage, it is planned to extend the use of the platform to all velayats of the country, UNDP added.

The project was implemented by the United Nations Development Programme together with the National Red Crescent Society of Turkmenistan with financial support from the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. To access the application, patients must contact their doctor.

In addition, UNDP Turkmenistan launched the first episode of a podcast on health, “Healthcare Insights”, dedicated to World Health Day. It is dedicated to the fight against tuberculosis in Turkmenistan, the country’s achievements, the sustainability of the health system, and the important role of international partnership.