SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga, Philippines – The Department of Health (DOH) will launch a new treatment for multi drug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB), which was pilot-tested in hospitals in three regions, including Central Luzon.
A combination of drugs used for DRTB patients at the Jose B. Lingad Regional Hospital here had been found effective, Rhodora Cruz, head of the DOH-Central Luzon tuberculosis prevention center, told a press conference yesterday.
Cruz said the treatment was pre-qualified by the World Health Organization and also found effective in Asian countries such as India and Indonesia.
She said the treatment is good for nine months instead of the usual 24 months.
However, Cruz said the treatment should be conducted by trained health personnel since the medication requires intra-muscular injections.
Nineteen hospitals and rural health units in Central Luzon have personnel and equipment to diagnose MDR-TB. Fourteen of these could provide treatment.