As this study was done on those with drug-resistant forms of TB of the lungs (and not extrapulmonary TB), Dr Tweed remarked that it was done so, as TB of the lungs (pulmonary TB) is easier to diagnose, monitor, and confirm cure. Also three out of four TB patients suffer from TB of the lungs.
Larger goal
The larger goal is to have many novel TB-treatment regimens, which can be tailored as per the drug-resistance profile of a person (individualised therapy), said Dr Tweed.
But we have to tread with caution as many drugs developed in the past century have lost their efficacy due to drug resistance. Sadly, resistance to the relatively new wonder drug Bedaquiline is already getting reported from South Africa, for instance.
"There is no such thing as a magic bullet when we are dealing with drug resistance. Any novel regimen has to be taken with the perspective of programmatic adjustments of what is needed. Moreover, there needs to be a big increase in funding for TB programming in the most hard-hit areas. We also need to see an improvement in TB diagnostics - not just in developing new technology, but also in its rollout. We need to see better awareness and we do need global development cooperation to make this work," said Dr Tweed.
Governments worldwide have promised to end TB globally by 2030. With less than 100 months left to deliver on these goals, let us hope that this public health and human rights urgency will spur us all towards judicious use of all the novel and effective TB treatments, and fully invest in TB programming so that no one is left behind when it comes to preventing TB, diagnosing TB early, treating TB with effective medicines, ensuring cure and providing the full spectrum of care and support, given the local realities.
Shobha Shukla - CNS (Citizen News Service)
(Shobha Shukla is the award-winning founding Managing Editor and Executive Director of CNS and is a feminist, health and development justice advocate. She is a former senior Physics faculty of prestigious Loreto Convent College and current Coordinator of Asia Pacific Regional Media Alliance for Health and Development (APCAT Media). Follow her on Twitter @shobha1shukla or read her writings here www.bit.ly/ShobhaShukla)
- Shared under Creative Commons (CC)
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