World Tuberculosis Day: Gear up to end TB
Tuberculosis in China is a disease of poverty, according to the World Health Organization. The majority of tuberculosis patients in China have a below-average income level. The high cost of treatment and the need to take medication over an extended period of time, in particular for patients with multi-drug resistant TB (MDR-TB), makes treatment less viable for the poor.
“Tuberculosis remains the number one public health threat from an infectious disease in China,” said Dr Bernhard Schwartländer, WHO representative in China. “There are still an estimated one million new cases of TB in China every year. Disturbingly, the highest rate of tuberculosis is among the poor.”
Of these, 100,000 patients are completely missed by the health system. Exacerbating the challenge is the high rate of MDR-TB in China. An estimated 54,200 cases of MDR TB makes China the country with the second highest burden after India.
Treatment for MDR-TB is very expensive: the cost per patient is of about RMB 40,000 per course of treatment. By comparison, China’s GDP for 2013 was RMB 42,200 per capita.
“Diagnosing and treating tuberculosis, and in particular MDR-TB, require a commitment on behalf of the patient and the provider,” said Dr Fabio Scano, Coordinator, Disease Control at the World Health Organization. “The cost of treatment is very high and insurance plans aren’t always adequate. Far too many patients fall through the cracks and do not get the treatment necessary to halt the disease.”
“To conquer tuberculosis China is piloting new delivery and financial protection models,” said Dr Schwartländer. “Over the last 20 years China has made the biggest gains in the world in tuberculosis control. Now, we need new models for treatment which begin to rein in the high cost of treatment.”
“If we want to enter a new phase where TB and MDR TB are no longer diseases of public health concern, we must prioritize the implementation of new tools and technology to identify new cases more rapidly, and to simplify treatment regimes. Equally, we need China to find innovative funding models to provide treatment to the most vulnerable,” said Dr Schwartländer.
“Tuberculosis in China must not remain a disease of poverty,” said Dr Schwartländer. “The WHO and the National Health and Family Planning Commission stand together with our goal to ensure affordable health care to all Chinese people.”
“There is no reason, that over the next 20 years, China cannot lead the efforts to call the end of tuberculosis. On Stop TB Day, let’s pledge together to gear up to end TB,” concluded Dr Schwartländer.