In December 2003, Novartis signed a Memorandum of Understanding with WHO committing itself to donate the WHO recommended best TB treatment for half a million patients over five years. This comprises the rifampicin-based fixed-dose combinations for the intensive and continuation phase of treatment. The drugs will be given to the Global Drug Facility (GDF) of the Stop TB Partnership for use in programs supported by the Global Fund against AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. Novartis will also provide the necessary funds for logistics and independent quality control, to be carried out in addition to the quality control of the Novartis group. The drugs will be provided in blister packs within patient kits. Fixed-dose combinations (FDCs) offer significant advantages over loose drugs. They permit the simultaneous intake of several drugs thereby preventing monotherapy and reducing the risk of resistance. They also dramatically reduce the number of tablets patients need to take. FDCs also eliminate stock outs of any individual drug, simplify logistics and minimize prescription errors. The use of Rifampicin throughout the treatment regimen reduces the duration of treatment from eight to six months. In addition to providing free treatment, the Novartis Foundation for Sustainable Development is working closely with health ministries to help develop innovative solutions to improve patient compliance with treatment as well as to de-stigmatize the disease – both major challenges in TB. Often patients cannot comply with treatment due to the costs of having to go to a health facility every day to take their treatment and the inevitable loss of wages. A patient-centered approach that gives patients a choice of how their treatment will be supervised is currently being developed and tested. The fear and stigma of TB, which has intensified in recent years due to its close association with HIV/AIDS, needs to be addressed.