How Dr. Paul Farmer Revolutionized TB Care

21 October 2024

A timeline tracking the PIH co-founder’s contributions to improving TB treatment, research, and policy globally

Three decades ago, Partners In Health (PIH)’s co-founder Dr. Paul Farmer and global colleagues embarked on a journey to combat multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) in low-resource settings, such as the rural Central Plateau in Haiti and densely populated neighborhoods surrounding Lima, Peru. 

Farmer championed a model of community-based TB treatments that kept patient concerns at the center of care, forever transforming global health delivery, research, and policies. This approach addressed the underlying factors that contribute to disease spread, ensured marginalized populations received the medical support they deserved, and laid the foundation for sustainable solutions that have improved TB outcomes worldwide.  

Although Farmer passed away in February 2022, his legacy remains strong. The work he started decades ago continues to bear fruit and inspires innovations that have revolutionized TB care. His example inspired new generations of TB experts to follow in his footsteps, at PIH and beyond.  

A timeline highlights Farmer’s pivotal role in the fight to end TB, driven by a vision for equitable health care that lives on today. 

Source: Partners In Health