MDR-TB in Pakistan: Challenges, efforts, and recommendations

Mahad Ahmed Khan; Wajeeha Bilal; Hanzla Asim; Zainab Syyeda Rahmat; Mohammad Yasir Essar; Shoaib Ahmad

doi:10.1016/j.amsu.2022.104009

MDR-TB in Pakistan: Challenges, efforts, and recommendations

Ann Med Surg (Lond). 2022 Jun 17:79:104009. doi: 10.1016/j.amsu.2022.104009. eCollection 2022 Jul.

Authors

Mahad Ahmed Khan¹, Wajeeha Bilal¹, Hanzla Asim¹, Zainab Syyeda Rahmat¹, Mohammad Yasir Essar², Shoaib Ahmad³

Affiliations

¹ Dow University of Health Sciences, Pakistan.
² Kabul University of Medical Sciences, Kabul, Afghanistan.
³ District Head Quarters Teaching Hospital, Faisalabad, Pakistan.

Abstract

Tuberculosis (TB), a global health concern is also a leading cause of mortality and morbidity across Pakistan affecting a major proportion of the population. The absence of an integrated system to control the spread of TB has led to a rise in multidrug resistant strains of TB (MDR-Tb) which do not exhibit any sensitivity towards the first line therapy for TB. Such adverse circumstances call for effective planning strategies to mitigate the health hazards of MDR-TB. This article briefly highlights the challenges encountered by the already burdened healthcare system and suggests relatively inexpensive approaches to tackle the ongoing crisis associated with MDR-TB on a national scale.

Keywords: COVID-19; MDR, multiple drug resistance; MDR-TB; PMDT, Programmatic Management of Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis; Pakistan; Tuberculosis.