The World Health Organization (WHO) reported that the Philippines is very likely to attain its Millennium Development Goal (MDG) target for tuberculosis (TB) by 2015, after a WHO published study found that the country garnered an average annual success rate of 90% in TB treatment since 2003.
A national annual TB treatment success rate of 85% is prescribed by WHO in order for any country to achieve the MDG targets for TB, which is to halt and reverse the incidence of TB by 2015.
Covering eight years of treatment on reported TB cases since the Philippines successfully achieved nationwide coverage of directly observed treatment, short-course (DOTS) to treat TB cases in 2003, the researchers found that the Philippines did not only meet the prescribed percentage but actually exceeded it by 5%.
TB in the country.Researchers cited the improvement in the country’s case detection and making TB services accessible in remote and poor communities through DOTS program as the key reasons in the positive trend in treating
However, researchers noted that there are still rooms for improvement. Advancing the referral system, ensuring for more robust follow-up examinations for patients under treatment, and strengthening the TB information system for better surveillance, planning and decision-making in TB programs were mentioned to likely sustain the high treatment success rate in the treatment TB patients in the country.
REFERENCE:Vianzon, R., Garfin, A., Lagos, A., & Belen, R. (2013). The tuberculosis profile of the philippines, 2003–2011: advancing dots and beyond. Western Pacific Surveillance and Response Journal, 4(2), Retrieved from http://www.wpro.who.int/wpsar/volumes/04/2/2013_VBD_SR_Vianzon/en/
