Engaging all care providers through public–private mix (PPM) approaches and promoting the International Standards for Tuberculosis Care (ISTC) are among the core components of the Stop TB Strategy. Strengthening health systems through engagement of all relevant healthcare providers is essential to meet the TB-related Millennium Development Goals and reach the targets for tuberculosis (TB) control set out in the Global Plan to Stop TB 2006–2015. The Subgroup on Public–Private Mix for TB Care and Control (PPM Subgroup) has been instrumental in assisting countries to enhance collaboration among health-care providers in diverse settings. The PPM Subgroup was established by the Stop TB Partnership's DOTS Expansion Working Group in 2002. Its members include representatives from the private sector, academia, national TB programme managers, policy makers, field experts, international technical partners and donor agencies.