Nepali Times Examines Country’s TB Control Program

The Nepali Times in its May 20-26 issue examined the country's tuberculosis control program, which is "regarded as a model for other developing countries" and has more than doubled treatment success rates from 40% in 1994 to more than 88% currently. The program -- which is managed by the state-run National Tuberculosis Centre with technical and financial backing from various international health organizations -- in 1996 implemented the directly observed treatment, short course, or DOTS, treatment strategy. To date, DOTS has been implemented in all districts in Nepal, and 75% of the country's population has access to TB treatment, according to the Times. However, there are "serious concerns" that "[c]onstant Maoist road blockades" could prevent patients from reaching health care facilities to continue their treatment regimens uninterrupted, the Times reports (Newar, Nepali Times, May 20-26).