In Myanmar, 358 in 100,000 population are infected with TB and the TB transmission rate declines by three per cent every year, according to a global TB report 2018.
The mortality rate was 51. Under the National TB Eradication Project, the ministry cured 135,801 TB patients in 2018. The average TB treatment success rate is 87 per cent. The ministry could carry out TB screening and treatments in remote areas, worksites and prisons.
Dr. Myint Htwe, Union Minister for Health and Sports said: “Decision was made at the high-ranking officials meeting at the UN headquarters in 2018, to pay special attention to the fight against TB worldwide. The prevalence of TB is especially associated with socio-economic status of the people. It depends largely on population density, migration and malnutrition.”
For 2018-2020, the Global Fund contributed 10 million US dollars for the TB eradication program. The Access to Health Fund donated an additional one million US dollars for 2019-2020.
The ministry has directed private hospitals, clinics and labs to report the outbreaks of TB.
In 1995-96 FY, the government allowed a budget of Ks14 million for the Anti-TB program. The budget allotted for 2016-17 FY reached Ks 5,568 million, Ks4,241 million for 2017-18 FY and Ks over 4,000 million for 2018-19 FY. In 2017, the Global Fund donated 19 million US dollars and 3 MDGs, 1.2 million US dollars.
The ministry is implementing the urban TB treatment and control projects in 13 townships in Yangon as the spreads of TB in Yangon are rampant. The move aims to give effective treatment to the patients who have no easy access to medical care.
In Yangon, there are around 6,000 TB patients who have never received medical treatments before, including drug-resident TB patients.
