The government steps up campaign on TB cure if only to help those afflicted with the disease get treatment for free.

TB doctor urges patients to avail of free medicines

DAVAO CITY (PNA) -– A tuberculosis (TB) treatment center physician here is urging patients to avail free medicines for drug-resistant TB patients which are now available at the regional office of the Department of Health (DOH) Programmatic Management of Drug Resistant Tuberculosis here.

Lilian Suemith, treatment center physician here, said the five-year TB program funded by the Global fund aims to help patients in Mindanao. The center is located at the old out-patients building of the Southern Philippine Medical Center (SPMC) along J.P. Laurel Ave, this city.

Suemith said the treatment center has been open since 2009 and there has been more than 200 patients treated or checked while 57 patients are being treated for drug resistant TB.

"We are on active case filing and we are urging those who are suffering from the disease to go to the center," she said.

Suemith said the center is giving for free an 18-month treatment as compared to a regular six to eight months treatment period which costs P200 to P300 for one patient, in private health facilities.

The center has signed a memorandum of agreement with local government units in assisting TB patients with their transportation to and from the center, she said. (PNA) 

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