Table 1 "Policy entrepreneurs" in the context of the Malawi National TB Programme

These are senior people within the National TB Programme (TB Programme Director and National TB Advisor responsible for operational research), who are well connected with senior personnel in the Ministry of Health and other actors in the health sector (for example, the Medical School)

They are responsible for the overall TB operational research programme and provide direction to the research questions and research implementation in the field

They assess the outcomes of the research and decide how this may influence policy within the context of the TB Programme and the wider health sector: this is discussed within programme management group meetings

Once decisions are made about the way forward, they assume responsibility for initial discussions with senior people in the Ministry of Health (for example, director of preventive services, secretary for health)

They take responsibility for the forthcoming policy meetings, and act as the secretariat for the organization and chairmanship of the meetings and for writing the minutes

They take responsibility for drafting new policy, and once this is agreed for dissemination country wide