DOH: Missing TB Cases Increasing in Central Visayas
Department of Health Region 7 reinstitutes the National Tuberculosis Program (NTP) Regional Coordinating Committee (RCC) and Multi-Sectoral Alliance on August 10, 2018 at Sarrosa International Hotel.
In compliance with Republic Act 1076, this move is to address issues on tuberculosis, specifically on missing cases.
Its goal is to reduce TB burden by decreasing TB mortality rate by 95% and TB incidence by 90% by 2035.
Missing cases are those that are unreached, undiagnosed, and unreported.
There are a total of 26,421 missing cases in Central Visayas: Siquijor, 399; Mandaue City, 725; Lapu-lapu City, 1,186; Cebu City, 2,645; Negros Oriental, 5,060; and the rest of Cebu Province, 11,031.
The DOH hopes that by the activation of RCC and Multi-sectoral Alliance, TB care and prevention programs for patients and communities will be strictly implemented.
The National Tuberculosis Program has been there since 1978 but DOH Regional Director Dr. Jaime Bernadas said that its goal is very elusive to achieve.
“Our initial target was control of tuberculosis and now we are for elimination,” he added.
DOH provides free TB consultation and medication for patients and presumptive patients in TB-DOTS facilities. However, they face challenges in disseminating and encouraging people to avail of its services.
Additionally, DOH-7 urges private practitioners to notify DOH of their TB cases for proper documentation.
Dr. Bernadas suggested integrating a case notification platform for private institutions in the existing TB Information System.
“So many poor people are being served by private physicians who don’t refer to the DOH,” explained Dr. Eduardo Yu, re-elected chairman of the alliance, citing that the weakest link in TB control and treatment is the private sector.
“What can you offer to the private sector so that it will cooperate?” Dr. Leticia Abihuman, Medical Director of Vicente Gullas Memorial Hospital, raised a question of competition between rural health units and private institutions.
“Unfortunately, the TB program cannot provide financial assistance to private institutions who wish to be a DOTS provider.” said NTP Manager Dr. Azenith Laurel. But, she assured that DOH strives to reduce the prices of TB testing in private institutions by supplying medicines and other materials. (Bridgette May Bayhon/PIA7)
