Feasibility and Cost-Effectiveness of Treating Multidrug-Resistant Tuberculosis
Author Information
Author(s): Paul Garner, Marissa Alejandria, Mary Ann Lansang
Primary Institution: Makati Medical Center
Hypothesis
Is DOTS-Plus a feasible and cost-effective strategy for treating MDR-TB?
Conclusion
Treating MDR-TB patients is feasible and cost-effective in low- and middle-income countries.
Supporting Evidence
- 61 percent of the 117 analyzed patients were cured.
- The study combined local cost data with indirect outcome data from other countries.
- The DOTS-Plus project is supported by the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.
Takeaway
This study shows that treating people with a tough kind of tuberculosis can be done well and doesn't have to cost a lot of money.
Methodology
A cohort study analyzing treatment outcomes and cost-effectiveness of the DOTS-Plus project in the Philippines.
Potential Biases
Involvement of WHO and Tropical Disease Foundation staff may introduce bias in the evaluation.
Limitations
The study is not an independent evaluation and was conducted under ideal conditions, which may not reflect usual service provision.
Participant Demographics
Patients with multidrug-resistant tuberculosis in the Philippines.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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