Drug Resistant Tuberculosis (DRTB)

In terms of Drug Resistant TB, we are still a long ways to go in terms of detecting and successfully treating our DRTb patients. The latest Drug Resistance Survey conducted by the NTRL shows that there was a decrease in the proportion of MDRTB among the new notified cases but the same rate is still observed for retreatment cases. It means that there is a significant drop in the estimates for MDRTB burden in the country. The problem though is that this estimate is based only on the notified new and retreatment cases, and not the general TB population in general. We may still be missing a significant number of MDRTB patients coming from non DOTS treatment.

Based on country data, we have improved in casefinding as we have enrolled 2390 DRTB cases last year, nearly all of them to be at least Rifampicin resistant based on GeneXpert. This is an achievement of the robust expansion of the program in terms of facilities for diagnosis and treatment, and the adoption of rapid diagnostic tests in the detection of rif-resistant TB. The challenge is still in the caseholding side since more patients are being lost to ff-up due to the long treatment affecting income generation and finances, and significant adverse reactions. Abundant research is ongoing in the field of having a shorter 9 month regimen for MDRTB patients and evaluating the reasons for lost to ff-up among MDRTB patients. Based on interim outcome data, there has been improvement in retaining our patients but the program goal is to treat 75% of MDRTB patients successfully.

We have made significant strides and accomplishments especially in the MDGs, roll out of both the enhanced PhilPACT 2010-2016 and the new NTP Manual of Procedures, the latter integrating all efforts of TB including PMDT and TB in children. But more effort is needed to truly eradicate this disease in our lifetime. This year’s theme for the World TB Day is Stop TB: Makialam, Tara Na! This is a call to action to all sectors involved in the fight against TB to step up efforts, to advocate for more people to be involved and be knowledgeable on the disease because this is the formula to truly fight TB. Tara Na!