Morobe reports TB scare

MOROBE has reported a serious tuberculosis (TB) scare as a result of inconsistent drug supply into the province.
Reliable sources from Angau Memorial Hospital said the hospital’s buffer stock of initial TB and multi-drug resistant TB (MDR TB) supply was low, thus posing a risk of extensively drug-resistant TB (XDR TB).
Sources revealed that the drug supplies were confirmed to in Port Moresby but were yet to be delivered to the provincial TB office since last week.
“In the meantime, we’re using our buffer-stock to serve our in-patient, our catchment, out-patients and referrals coming in from the 10 districts because their stocks have run out,” they said.
“We’re stressing on consistent supply because drug-resistant TB has been tripling in numbers and missing treatment will only increase the cases.
“After the Coronavirus (Covid-19) subsided, we started receiving about two to three primary cases of drug-resistant per week.
“We need to control MDR and in order to do so, we must treat initial TB cases consistently; this means no missing treatment or no running short of drugs.”
Provincial administrator Max Brutan said he would be briefed on the situation before he could respond.
Meanwhile, the sources said TB was currently the leading cause of admissions at Angau with majority of the cases coming through the emergency department.
“Every 10 people admitted through ED, about 90–99 per cent are confirmed for TB; between 400–500 patients are registered to Angau monthly, in addition to our in-patients,” the sources said.
They said while the reporting system was a cause of drug shortage, funding and procurement at the higher level were the main obstacle.
“Patients are suffering because of this and at the end of the day, the more TB cases we detect, the more Government will spend on drugs,” they said.
“Six months drug supply per person with initial TB costs about K15,000; 11 month supply for MDR per person costs about K50,000; and, K100,000 per person for XDR supply.
“TB is an airborne disease that affects and kills people but it’s curable depending on treatment consistency.
“While we’re handicapped, TB cases are increasing rapidly with 70-80 patients a day whereby, 60 per cent of which are primary cases.