Programmatic management of drug-resistant tuberculosis

The first priority in addressing MDR-TB remains prevention of acquired drug resistance by ensuring higher case detection and cure rates through high-quality DOTS services. In this context, national TB programmes have recognized the need to simultaneously address the existing pool of MDR-TB cases in line with internationally recommended protocols, including good infection control measures. In 2011, WHO Regional Office for South-East Asia published the Regional Response Plan on MDR-TB. In response to the need for scaling up the programmatic management of drug-resistant tuberculosis in the WHO South-East Asia Region, and under the new framework of the Global Green Light Committee, the Regional Office recently established a Regional Green Light Committee Secretariat with a Regional Advisory Committee on MDR-TB. The Regional Workshop on Programmatic Management of Drug-Resistant Technologies held in Chiang Mai, Thailand from 17 to 21 September 2012 provided clear technical guidance to national TB control programmes on the best measures for managing multidrug-resistant and extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis. It also helped in improving information systems at the different levels of health-care facilities in countries to report on the outcomes of MDR-TB cases detected and treated under national TB programmes, based on recently updated WHO guidelines.