ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: A total of 1,195,247 Tuberculosis (TB) patients have been cured in 340 government hospitals and treatment centers which are currently working in Pakistan for TB control, the Senate was informed.
In a written to a question by the Senator Chaudhary Tanvir Khan, the Minister for National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination Aamer Mehmood Kiani told the House that a total number of 1,661,961 TB patients are registered in the Country.
The minister further told that following steps have been taken by the government to improve the services in the aforesaid hospitals and treatment centers;
- Management of drug resistant tuberculosis has been introduced and scaled up across the country in 33 tertiary care hospitals both in public and private sector.
- TB care services have been expanded in private sector to enhance the coverage hence ensuring early case detection and prevention of disease spread.
- Bio safety laboratories (BSL), level II and III have been established in the country for safe and optimum diagnosis of tuberculosis.
- Latest diagnostic equipment provided (Gene Xpert) for early diagnosis of TB and drug resistant tuberculosis has been introduced in the country and being scaled up.
- Free of cost and quality assured anti TB drugs are being provided at every TB service outlet uninterruptedly.
- Training to doctors and paramedics on diagnosis and treatment of TB is being conducted at regular intervals and on need basis.
- Social Support (financial support) to drug resistant TB patients is being provided to ensure compliance. Additionally masks are being provided to drug resistant tuberculosis to prevent spread of disease.
- Donor support is being sought to introduce community engagement interventions to identify and treat the missing cases of tuberculosis.
- Efforts are being made to detect missing TB cases.
