Manuel announces XDR-TB plan
2007-10-30 19:19
Cape Town - The government is setting aside more cash to deal with drug-resistant strains of tuberculosis.
According to the Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement tabled on Tuesday, the next three years will see a scaled-up response to multi-drug-resistant TB and extreme drug-resistant TB.
Government's spending plans will provide for improved detection and surveillance systems, and specialised in-patient treatment hospitals in all provinces.
"Facilities will be provided to isolate and treat these patients for a period of six months in hospital, with 18 months of follow-up treatment, including regular laboratory testing," the statement said.
In addition, an extra R400m has been earmarked in the current financial year for treatment and prevention.
There has been a great deal of publicity in South Africa over the drug-resistant strains of the disease, and the number of diagnosed cases.
TB experts point out, however, that the diagnosed cases represent only a fraction of the pool of drug-resistant cases in the community.
They have urged the government to review the way it treats TB, to empower patients and ensure better compliance, which in turn would decrease the risk of drug resistance.
Overall health spending is set to grow by an annual average 11.4% up to and including the 2010/11 financial year.
- Sapa
- SAPA