Current Issues in Pharmacoeconomics2 _

TB deaths at record levelsNearly 3 million people died from tuberculosis (TB)

in 1995 - more people than in any other year in history,according to a WHO report. This figure surpasses thatof the epidemic in the early 1900s when an estimated2.1 million people died annually.

The WHO warns that the TB crisis will continue togrow unless immediate action is taken. At current rates,up to 500 million people could be diagnosed with TBin the next 50 years. Increasingly, these people maybecome infected with multiple-drug resistant TB.

DOT strategy recommendedThe international agency endorses a short-course

treatment strategy known as directly observed therapy(DOTS), which has proven successful against TB.Countries that follow the DOTS strategy, such asTanzania. China and Peru, have found that the numberof patients with TB successfully cured can be doubled.

According to the WHO report, the DOTS strategycan cure nearly 95% of patients with TB, usingmedicines that cost < $11 in some parts of the world[currency not specified]. However, this strategy isonly being used for around 10% of patients with TB.The report suggests that if the strategy was adopted bya dozen large countries (e.g. Brazil, China. India.Mexico, the Russian Federation, South Africa), nearly75% of the world's TB cases could be cured. - Mediarelease

TB deaths reach historic levels: oot only has TB relWlled, it's worse thanever says new WHO report. PhannacoEcooomics & Outcomes News 56: 6Apr 1996 ....,..".

~ Editorial comment: In a recent issue ofPhannacoEconomics & Outcomes News {55: 3, 30 Mar1996; 800430724J, Dale Morse from the New York StateDepartment ofHealth in the US stated his belief thatindustrialised and developing countries could save moneyby adopting DOTS for TB. Similarly, Dr Arata Koch~

director ofthe WHO global TB programme, believes thatDOTS is 'the quickest and most affordablefirst step to reversethe current TB epidemic '. He also points to the needfor newantituberr:ular drugs and vaccines; in particular, drugs thatcould be used as monothempyfor TB are needed to enhancepatient compliance.

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