Phaahla: Retention rate for TB medicine key to winning battle
Health Minister Joe Phaahla says while the country has achieved an impressive retention rate of those who are on medication for Tuberculosis, the goal is still to aim higher.
He was speaking during the TB Indaba in Durban on Tuesday.
Phaahla says keeping TB patients on medication throughout the prescribed period is still vital in the country's fight.
"We are almost approaching just about 80% in terms of drug-resistant TB treatment retention, but we want to scale that up as we want to approach 90%.
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"So at least we want to be closer to 86 to 90% retention – ambitious, but we think it is doable."
Phaahla says this begins with the earliest communication upon confirmation of TB so that patients get on medication as soon as possible.
"We will also introduce TB results and notification through SMS to improve linkage because, at the current moment, part of the problem is still the gap between people who are diagnosed with TB and those who are treated, especially in terms of retention on treatment."
