The number of Multi-Drug Resistant Tuberculosis (MDR-TB) has increased significantly from six to 48 new cases within a decade.
MDR-TB is a form of tuberculosis that is resistant to primary drugs used for treatment.
Health officials attribute the rise to more advanced diagnosing equipment.
Bhutan is considered a low burden tuberculosis country.
“Earlier, it was based more on clinician’s experience. When somebody is put on treatment and they feel this person is not responding they usually go for MDR or second stage treatment,” said the Director of Department of Public Health under health ministry, Dr. Pandup Tshering.
It costs around Nu 180,000 to treat a MDR-TB patient, which is a hundred time more expensive than the normal treatment. It takes 20 months to treat a patient.
Dr. Pandup Tshering said a person develops MDR-TB because if that person does not complete full course of treatment.
“The other thing is that if somebody already has MDR, and if there is no infection control.”
It takes one to two days to diagnose MDR-TB.
