People suffering from the deadly strains of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) now have access to high quality "second line" drugs at sharply reduced prices and to a system designed to promote the use of the drugs in the most effective manner, thanks to international efforts led by the World Health Organization, Médecins Sans Frontières and Harvard Medical School.
Some countries will be able to save as much as 94% of their current spending on the drugs needed to treat MDR-TB. Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) was instrumental in the negotiations with the pharmaceutical industry for the second line drugs, which currently cost as much as US $19,000 to treat one person. The World Health Organization (WHO) and its international partners are helping countries to ensure that these drugs are used effectively and providing technical support to improve the treatment available to sufferers of MDR-TB.
"International approaches to reducing TB drug prices show that the international TB partnership can make a significant difference to people suffering from multidrug-resistant TB," said Dr Gro Harlem Brundltand, Director-General of the World Health Organization.
WHO is also working to ensure proper use of these drugs via a multiagency collaboration known as the "Green Light Committee", which assists countries benefiting from the reduced prices in planning their intervention to achieve the best possible treatment outcomes. The cut in drug prices coupled with ensuring rational use through extensive country assistance will help to quickly provide treatment to patients and contribute to the rapid development of a global policy on the treatment of MDR-TB.
"WHO and our partners will provide teams of experts to help countries use these expensive but vital anti-TB drugs supplied through this effort properly and safely, in order not to develop further drug resistance," said Dr J.W. Lee, Director of Stop TB at WHO. He added, "WHO demonstrates leadership in setting the scientific standards and in providing effective MDR-TB drug treatment."
WHO emphasizes that new drugs and tools for managing TB are still a priority concern, and increased donor support will be needed.
Every year, 1.7 million people die unnecessarily because of TB. In recent years, outbreaks of MDR-TB in public institutions (hospitals, prisons and homeless shelters) in the United States, Europe and Latin America have caused many deaths and raised concerns about epidemic transmission of MDR-TB.