TB treatment in Qatar one of the best in the world: official

Asmany as 601 new tuberculosis (TB) cases, including 21 Qataris, werereported in the country in 2017, a senior official from Hamad MedicalCorporation said yesterday.“This is the normal rate of TB cases inmost of the countries leading in healthcare,” said Dr Abdul Latifal-Khal, deputy chief medical officer and director of medical education,as well as head of the Infectious Disease Division at HMC.Dral-Khal was addressing a press conference yesterday to highlight theactivities for the World TB Day, marked on March 24 every year.Dr Muna al-Maslamani, medical director, Communicable Disease Centre (CDC) was also present at the press conference.“Weget around 50-70 suspected TB referrals from the Medical Commissiondaily. In addition we also have a screening programme for those who arein contact with TB patients,” Dr al-Khal said.“Last year we hadscreened 2,456 people under the contact category. Out of them 527 havebeen put on treatment. They may not be suffering from the disease, butas a means for prevention of the disease,” Dr al-Khal said.According to the official, Qatar has one of the best TB treatment programmes in the world.“Thishas been made possible through the active support of the government. Alot of resource goes into the programme and we have the most moderntreatment practices and equipment to treat the disease,” the officialsaid.“In 2017, we screened 11,000 patients referred from HMCfacilities, primary care centres, the Medical Commission, privatehospitals, and Qatar Red Crescent.At the CDC, we have a highlyspecialised medical team that provides consultations and treatment forpatients. If we identify someone who has been exposed to TB, we providethem with preventive treatment.Healthcare for TB patients in Qataris free of charge and those affected can usually return to work withintwo to three weeks of starting treatment,” Dr al-Maslamani said.“TheCDC is taking the fight against tuberculosis into the community with apublic education, awareness, and prevention event. Tomorrow, there willbe an awareness event at LuLu Hypermarket in Al Khor Mall from 3pm to6pm. Members of the public will have an opportunity to learn how toidentify and prevent the infectious disease, and clinical teams from HMCwill offer free basic health checkups,” said Dr al-Maslamani.TheCDC will also hold an event today at its facility in Hamad Medical Cityto acknowledge the occasion with staff and patients. “Additionally,awareness events are planned from 8am to noon in the main lobbies ofHamad General Hospital, Rumailah Hospital, Al Khor Hospital, and AlWakra Hospital. Hospital visitors will learn about TB, have theopportunity to receive a free basic health checkup, and receiveeducational leaflets highlighting the condition,” al-Maslamani said.“Globally,more than 2bn people are infected with TB. But as a disease, peopleshould know that TB is both preventable and curable. In Qatar, we have avery low incidence of TB, which is the result of our infectious diseasecontrol programme and education initiatives,” Dr al-Maslamani added.