Member News
By Baroness Masham of Ilton - 15th March 2010
Baroness Masham of Ilton writes for ePolitix.com ahead of her question on what the government is doing to combat drug-resistant tuberculosis in the United Kingdom and overseas.
My question aims to draw attention to the need for vigilance about the spread of drug-resistant tuberculosis.
A government statement says: 'National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidelines on the treatment and diagnosis of TB (2006) include specific guidance on treatment and rapid contact-tracing of people in contact with any type of drug-resistant TB. The key step in preventing development of drug-resistant TB is improving adherence to treatment among those TB patients who have already started their treatment.'
The department for international development (DfID) recently outlined the steps it is taking to implement the World Health Assembly's resolution 62.15 on prevention and control of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR TB) and extensively drug resistant tuberculosis (XDR-TB)
DfID says it 'recognises that drug-resistant strains of TB pose serious threats to achieving the goals of the global plan, and [we] are working with our partners to ensure that prompt quality diagnosis and effective treatment is available for those who need it'.
With air travel, the countries of the world are very close. India, China, the Russian Federation, South Africa and Bangladesh in that order, lead the world in MDR TB, and XDR-TB has been found in 57 countries (Drug Resistant).
Drug-Resistant TB is more difficult and much more expensive to treat. Our numbers are not as great as many countries, but they are increasing. We cannot afford to be complacent.
Prevention of TB should be a top priority. In 2009, a World Health Assembly MDR-TB and XDR-TB resolution recommended priority actions to combat drug-resistant TB.
Having visited and seen for myself the excellent work of the only mobile TB X-ray screening unit in the country, which is based in London and run by Find and Treat, I think it is a valuable asset for prevention of TB. This unit visits hostels for homeless people and prisons and the hard-to-reach population.
The department of health's funding is due to run out in December 2010. The Health Protection Agency has reported that this intervention is potentially cost-saving and there is a need for two, if not three, units. The Mayor of London highlighted this service as one of the six in London that really make a difference.
Should this excellent tool of public health not be the responsibility of NHS London and the Primary Care Trusts, which have high percentages of people with TB? It will be a very retrograde step if London cannot find the money for this valuable tool for prevention of Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis.
Dods Parliamentary Communications Ltd