More treatment options for rifampicin-resistant tuberculosis: the role of economic evaluation in informing uptake

There have been substantial advances in treatment options for multidrug-resistant and rifampicin-resistant tuberculosis. Just a few years ago, a typical patient faced months of painful injections, life-changing adverse effects, and a very small chance of cure. This year, WHO announced forthcoming updates to global guidelines including 6-month and 9-month all-oral regimens for treatment of multidrug-resistant and rifampicin-resistant tuberculosis.1 In the context of these rapidly changing options for treating multidrug-resistant and rifampicin-resistant tuberculosis and persisting high costs of newer drugs such as bedaquiline, countries are facing difficult decisions about when and how to incorporate new drug regimens into national guidelines, and the economic effects of new regimens will be a key consideration in their uptake.