TB partners celebrate the journey from long to
shorter treatment during world TB day 2023
Marking the day when Robert Koch discovered the TB bacillus in 1882, the Tropical Disease Foundation (TDF) and the Lung Center of the Philippines (LCP) in collaboration with the Disease Prevention and Control Bureau (DPCB) of the Department of Health and the Philippine Coalition against Tuberculosis (PhilCAT) gathered on 24 March 2023 to celebrate the journey towards better, more patient-centered treatment for MDR-/RR-TB patients. In December 2022, the WHO officially recommended the programmatic use of the 6-month all-oral regimens, BPaLM and BPaL. These regimens are a far contrast to the 18-20 month regimens that started as injectable-based leading to major adverse drug reactions among patients.
Held at the Lung Center of the Philippines, the hybrid symposium was aptly entitled “Current Strategies against Drug-resistant TB” highlighting presentations from the DPCB on the disease burden in the Philippines and current strategies by Dr. Clarice Salido, and from WHO-Headquarters on the new recommended DR-TB regimens by Dr. Medea Gegia. This was followed by a multi-stakeholder panel discussion with representation from the region (Center for Health Development/CHD 5 Medical TB Coordinator Dr. Jannish Arellano), the local government unit (Sorsogon Provincial Health Office Medical TB Coordinator Dr. Erwin Javier), the treatment facility (Western Visayas Medical Center and Satellite Treatment Center physician Dr. Leonnie Estoce), the laboratory (National TB Reference Laboratory Head Dr. Ramon Basilio), the Research Team (BPaL Operational Research Principal Investigator Dr. Irene Flores), and civil society advocacy group TB People Philippines (DR-TB BPaL survivor FYB). All panelists unanimously expressed support for the DOH as it transitions to the programmatic implementation of the new patient-friendly regimens underscoring the need for partnership. Dr. Janice Caoili, PhilCAT Chair gave an inspiring message of support towards the efforts to end TB through the bayanihan spirit in line with this year’s WTBD theme: Yes! We can end TB!
Dr. Julius Lecciones, President and CEO of TDF welcomed both the onsite and online participants, while Dr. Vincent Balanag, Executive Director of LCP and BPaL OR Co-investigator gave the closing remarks. LCP Research Coordinator Ms. Rhoda Cervas was the Master of ceremonies. The Q and A session and the Panel Discussion were moderated by Dr. Mamel Quelapio, LIFT-TB Consultant. Ms. Maricel Trono, TDF Coordinator LIFT-TB Philippines, coordinated the event which was attended by around 270 local and international participants onsite and online.
LIFT-TB stands for Leveraging Innovation for Faster Treatment of TB led by TB Alliance in close partnership with KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation and the International TB Research Center (Korea).
Presentations and documentation photos from the event can be found in the TDF LIFT-TB webpage (WTBD symposium: Current strategies against drug-resistant tuberculosis).
