Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 2) – The Department of Health will offer a shorter treatment plan for tuberculosis by the third quarter to encourage patients to continue their medication midway, Secretary Ted Herbosa said Monday.
\”The WHO (World Health Organization) recommended us to adopt the four-month treatment regimen, which is two months of certain list of drugs and another two months of a different set of drugs. This is for regular drug-susceptible tuberculosis,\” Herbosa told reporters.
“Mayroon naman tayong six-month regimen for drug-resistant tuberculosis kasi yun yung dumadami. I think both of these (treatments) will be implemented,” he added.
[Translation: We have a six-month regimen for drug-resistant tuberculosis because its cases are rising. I think both of these treatments will be implemented.]
Herbosa said the tuberculosis treatment takes about nine to 12 months.
“Pag wala nang nararamdaman ang pasyente, hinihinto na niya yung meds,” the Health chief said. “This shorter therapy will give us better success of really stopping the treatment, and hindi na magkahawaan.”
[Translation: The patient stops taking his meds once he does not feel sick.]
Herbosa said the department plans to tap technology in addressing the illness.
