Doing something about tuberculosis

• Published in: BMJ Vol. 318; no. 7189; p. 956
• Main Authors: Zumla, Alimuddin, Grange, John M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England British Medical Journal Publishing Group 10.04.1999; British Medical Association; BMJ Publishing Group LTD; BMJ Publishing Group; British Medical Journal
• Edition: International edition
• Subjects: Ambivalence; BCG Vaccine; Directly observed therapy; Editorials; Epidemics; Global Health; Humans; Lungs; Population; Psychoeducational intervention; Public health; Socioeconomic Factors; Tuberculosis; Tuberculosis - prevention & control; Tuberculosis control; United Kingdom > UK; Economic Factors; Treatment; Critique; Developing Countries; Infections; Tuberculosis > prevention and control; Promotion; Diseases; Marketing
• ISSN: 0959-8138; 0959-8146; 1468-5833; 1756-1833
• DOI: 10.1136/bmj.318.7189.956

[...]there are clear indications that the health sector reforms within the structural readjustment programmes are further depriving the poor of adequate medical care. 3 4 Secondly, the concept that health is the natural consequence of socioeconomic improvement is naive: it neglects the impact on health services of the numerous specific political actions taken in response to intense lobbying by public health advocates. 5 To redress the balance and as a focus for advocacy, the World Health Organisation is promoting its "Stop TB-use DOTS" campaign, based on its five point directly observed therapy short course (DOTS) strategy. 6 This calls for government commitment to national tuberculosis programmes, regular supplies of drugs, effective diagnostic microscopy services, treatment given under direct observation by trained supervisors, and audit of the efficacy of the strategy.