There is a shortage of medication to treat patients with Multi-Drug Resistant Tuberculosis (MDR-TB), Public Health Ministry spokesman Terrence Esseboom confirmed yesterday.
Speaking to Stabroek News on the shortage, Esseboom explained that the drugs have been procured but the contracted supplier has been experiencing some difficulty with importation. This has resulted in the shortage.
Word of the drug shortage was highlighted by a letter writer in yesterday’s Kaieteur News. In the letter, the writer, who is a MDR-TB patient, lamented that “it has been one week and three days since the Ministry of Public Health is out of MDR-TB medication.”
A source at the National Tuberculosis Programme told Stabroek News that there has been a shortage for approximately one month. While the source did not give a reason for the shortage, it was acknowledged that there has been some issues with the procurement, resulting in the shortage.
The medication, the source said, is costly and approximately $1 million is spent on medication for every patient during the treatment period. The treatment period is approximately 18 to 24 months.
It was pointed out that without the treatment, a patient’s condition can take a turn for the worse.
In the letter, the patient pointed out that “the treatment includes 6 months of injections, 5 days per week and 17 pills, which is very toxic, followed with lots of side effects such as nausea, vomiting, joint pains, a singing sound in your ears, blurred vision etcetera.” Medication is administered to patients six days per week and it should not be missed.
“People, please understand the TB bacteria is very hard to get rid of and even though [this] medication makes us feel terrible every day, we also know it is the only medication that can make us survive, and it also cures, so it’s important for us to get our medication every day,” the letter writer said, while calling for authorities to put measures in place for patients. “Yes, I know MDR-TB medication [is] expensive, but they have to do something very soon. There are new diagnosed cases out there who haven’t started their treatment because of the shortage. These people are walking the streets, and if they are not educated enough about this disease, ask yourself how many innocent people like myself would become infected,” the writer added.
