Can health systems be enhanced for optimal health services through disease-specific programs? - results of field studies in Viet Nam and Cambodia

In the past decades, several strategies such as the Directly Observed Treatment, Short-course(DOTS) strategy for tuberculosis control and the Expanded Program for Immunization (EPI) were developed to effectively implement disease-specific programs through simple and universally adopted interventions. The DOTS s t ra tegy i s a s imple package for tuberculosis (TB) control developed as a cost-effective health interventionthat can be easily implemented in various settings. The strategy highlights identification and monitoring of patients through a sputum smear exam, direct observation to prevent drop-outs, and case management and evaluation by cohort analysis through recording and reporting. The DOTS strategy has been adopted by most countries with obvious results, although the world is not yet on track to decrease mortality and morbidity of TB due to health system bottlenecks (1). EPI aims to promote basic vaccination in order to protect children from vaccine-preventable diseases. EPI features strong logistic management including cold chainlogistics and has markedly Brief Report