New drugs and treatment regimens for tuberculosis are coming soon in Vietnam

"New TB drugs to treat cases of extremely drug-resistant TB patients. The new treatment regimen for drug-resistant TB patients has been shortened to only nine months, a time cut in half" - Associate Professor Nguyen Viet Nhung - Director of the Central Lung Hospital, Head of the National Tuberculosis Prevention Program said.

Treatment for tuberculosis patients. (Photo: VNA)

Alarming rate of tuberculosis drug resistance

- Tuberculosis is still one of the most common infectious diseases affecting the community in Vietnam. Can you tell us about the current situation of tuberculosis patients in Vietnam?

Associate Professor Nguyen Viet Nhung:Every year, there are about 130,000 new TB patients nationwide, but we have only detected about 70%, while 30% of TB patients in the community have not been detected. This is worrying, because people with TB who have not been detected pose a risk of spreading TB to the community.

Therefore, the problem now is how Vietnam can strive to detect all TB patients and provide them with the right treatment. This is the way to reduce the rate of drug resistance.

- Currently, the outbreak of drug-resistant tuberculosis is the leading threat to tuberculosis prevention work globally as well as in Vietnam. Could you elaborate on the current situation of drug-resistant tuberculosis in Vietnam and the need to change treatment regimens?

Associate Professor Nguyen Viet Nhung:Currently, Vietnam ranks 14/27 countries with a high rate of drug-resistant tuberculosis patients.

Recently, after an investigation into the situation of drug-resistant tuberculosis patients, it was found that the rate of drug resistance in Vietnam is not low. If we consider globally in 2015, there are 20 countries that are assessed to have a high rate of drug-resistant tuberculosis, Vietnam ranks 11th.

In Vietnam, more than 5,000 drug-resistant tuberculosis patients appear each year, of which nearly 6% are extremely drug-resistant tuberculosis.

The above figures show that Vietnam is at an alarmingly high rate of drug resistance to tuberculosis. Previously, we had no cure, no information. Now, there are treatment opportunities for people with drug-resistant tuberculosis, including patients with extremely drug-resistant tuberculosis.

Drug-resistant tuberculosis is resistant to the two basic drugs used to treat tuberculosis. In multidrug-resistant patients, this means that in addition to these two drugs, they are resistant to two other second-line drugs used to treat tuberculosis. In extremely drug-resistant patients, there is generally no cure.

New treatment regimen: Shortening the time

- The introduction of new TB drugs and treatment regimens in Vietnam is a new opportunity for drug-resistant TB patients. How is the new treatment regimen more effective than the old one, sir?

Associate Professor Nguyen Viet Nhung:New TB drugs to treat extremely drug-resistant TB patients. In addition, cases of multidrug-resistant TB who are intolerant to current drugs are also candidates for new drugs. In addition, there are patients who are not resistant to two basic drugs, only resistant to one drug, and are at risk of being incurable, and can now be treated with new drugs.

Previously, the treatment regimen for patients with multidrug-resistant tuberculosis was still 20-24 months, which was too long. Because of such a long treatment time, many patients could not follow it.

The new treatment regimen for drug-resistant tuberculosis patients has been shortened to only nine months, a time cut by more than half. The nine-month regimen has been piloted, tested, and Vietnam has begun to apply it.

Associate Professor Nguyen Viet Nhung - Director of the Central Lung Hospital. (Photo: Duong Ngoc/VNA)

- Can you tell us more about the plan to apply the new protocol that the health sector is implementing?

Associate Professor Nguyen Viet Nhung:Vietnam is fortunate to be on the list of countries that received early funding for new anti-tuberculosis drugs and applied new treatment regimens for tuberculosis patients.

The nine-month treatment regimen has been effective in countries that have implemented it, reaching over 80%. Treatment results show that patients tolerate the treatment well, and side effects and unwanted effects can be controlled.

Currently, the plan to deploy the nine-month regimen will be applied to the first 100 patients, then we will synthesize the results to draw further experience, evaluate how to expand. If applied well, the nine-month regimen will replace the old regimen.

A new drug to treat extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis will also be used on the first 100 patients starting this month. If the new drug proves effective, it will be widely used.

Reduced treatment costs

- Could you tell us the cost of the new medicine and new treatment regimen for tuberculosis patients?

Associate Professor Nguyen Viet Nhung:I affirm that the cost of treatment of the new regimen is not as expensive as the old regimen. The cost of treatment of the nine-month regimen, the number of drugs purchased will be less (of course there are some new drugs) and the price is cheaper than the current regimen. The most important thing is that the number of treatment days is lower, saving indirect costs.

In addition, patients benefit from the fact that the direct cost of purchasing drugs and equipment is cheaper than the current regimen. This is advantageous as it saves both time for patients and the time of the medical monitoring system.

We are also drafting a circular guiding the cost of health insurance for people with suspected TB. Accordingly, all services, tests, and examinations to detect TB will be covered by health insurance.

Thank you very much, Associate Professor!./.

According to Vietnamplus