Table 3.

Quotes illustrating themes related to treatment initiation (step IV in the patient pathway)

Theme	Quote
IV-A. Referral for treatment	“Unfortunately, the private sector refers patients to the MINSA system for treatment because they don’t have the treatment regimens. It would be ideal to give the patient a week of treatment and instruct them to follow up at a nearby health center for monitoring, but that’s not something that we are currently doing.” (Interview 20, private provider who diagnosed TB in the past year)
IV-B. Passive follow-up and lack of communication between sectors	“Patients usually reach out to me . . . and update me on the progress of the tests and results or if they have been cleared. So it is the opposite. Patients reach out to me rather than me reaching out to them.” (Interview 13, private provider who did not diagnose TB in the past year)
IV-C. Regulatory TB policies	“I am not familiar with any regulations in the private sector for TB. What I do know is that all TB cases should be referred to the nearest MINSA facility.” (Interview 18, private provider who diagnosed TB in the past year)
	“There are private facilities that, depending on the level of complexity, are definitely capable of treating tuberculosis . . . . They should treat tuberculosis. They are prepared. They even have their pulmonologist, and they have their areas. That is why this should be only reserved for the [more complex] clinics, because now they have to comply with new regulations.” (Interview 3, private provider who did not diagnose TB in the past year)
IV-D. Resource limitations	“And seeing it from the point of a private provider, I think it would be a bit difficult, financially speaking [to have a pulmonologist on standby in case we need one]. So, I am seeing it from the perspective of how much that would cost me.” (Interview 11, private provider who did not diagnose TB in the past year)

MINSA = Ministry of Health; TB = tuberculosis.