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Published on July 28, 2007

However, the Public Health Ministry has only a 75-per-cent rate for completely curing TB cases, below the WHO standard, mostly because patients do not take medicines continuously. Health volunteers were therefore ordered to search for TB cases in their villages.

Following a meeting with international experts yesterday, Dr Leopold Blance, coordinator of tuberculosis strategy and operations with the WHO, said the task of battling TB in Thailand was special as it was backed by HM the King.

This was a strong message to get cooperation from the communities. Combined with the participation of village health volunteers and the utilisation of health stations and community health centres, the chance of success is very high, he said.

Public Health Minister Mongkol na Songkhla said Thailand had 91,000 new TB cases reported each year. There are 130,000 patients in total.

Of this number, 40,000 people are in the contagious phase. The country also sees 5,000 to 7,000 deaths from TB each year. Most victims are working people between 15 and 44, he said.

There are 58,639 TB patients registered nationwide but the rate of complete cures is still low at only 75 per cent, below the WHO standard of 85 per cent, Mongkol said. This is partially because patients do not take medicine continuously and so are left contagious.

He said international experts led by Blance had assessed the control situation from July 16 to 24 in Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Khon Kaen, Udon Thani, Chon Buri, Rayong, Surat Thani, Nakhon Si Thammarat and Bangkok.

The team suggested that Thailand control TB systematically, coordinate and follow up tasks to meet the set target. 

Mongkol said his ministry would also intensify TB patient search and follow through until they were cured, using more than 800,000 village health volunteers to search for cases and to ensure patients take drugs continuously for six months.

State-run hospitals will focus on transferring patients for care in their own communities, Mongkol said.

Mongkol said illegal immigrant workers would also be allowed access to TB treatment.

Permanent secretary for Public Health Dr Prat Boonyawongvirot said Thailand had a re-emergence of TB because of the HIV/Aids outbreak that increased the number of people suffering from TB.

Thirty border provinces are watching immigration workers' movements and have seen a mounting prevalence of TB.