MINSK, 10 February (BelTA) – The tuberculosis incidence rate in Belarus declined by 43.1% from 2015 to 2019, reads the state program “Public Health and Demographic Security” for 2021-2025, BelTA informs.
According to the program, the TB incidence rate (new cases per 100 000 population per year) is expected to drop to 19.3 over the next five years.
Thanks to the measures to prevent and combat tuberculosis in 2015-2019, TB deaths shrank by 45% (from 4 to 2.2 per 100,000 population). It is expected that the figure will make 2.11 per 100,000 population by 2025. At the same time, the share of patients with multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) rose by 35.3% (from 54.7% to 74%) over this period.
However, in line with the projections, the share of patients with MDR-TB who successfully complete the TB treatment (9-24 months) will increase to 79% of all TB patients over the coming five years.
The state program sets forth guidelines to combat the TB. There are plans to improve access to TB diagnosis, treatment and care for vulnerable groups (people suffering from chronic alcoholism, drug users, patients with HIV). The legislation on the provision of specialized medical care will be revised and new legal acts will be developed.
