Over 100,000 new TB cases emerge in KP every year

PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa TB Control Programme arranged an awareness-raising program at the Khyber Medical University (KMU) to mark the World TB Day.

The event was attended by Advisor to the Chief Minister for Health, Ihtesham Ali, as the chief guest.

It was also attended by MPA Shafiullah Khan, Director General Health Services Dr. Mohammad Saleem, Vice-Chancellor of KMU Prof Dr Zia-ul-Haq, WHO Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Dr. Babar Alam, and representatives from various international organizations.

During the programme, Project Director Dr. Mudasir Shehzad briefed the audience, highlighting that Pakistan ranks fifth globally in the burden of TB. He shared that approximately 277 out of every 100,000 Pakistanis fall victim to tuberculosis each year.

Nationwide, 600,000 to 700,000 new TB cases are reported annually, while 470,000 cases were recorded in the previous year alone, he added. Focusing on Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Dr Shehzad stated that over 100,000 new cases emerge annually, with only 50,000 to 60,000 registered under the provincial TB Control Programme, leaving unregistered patients at risk of spreading the infection within communities.

Addressing the gathering, Ihtesham Ali emphasised the provincial government’s comprehensive strategy to combat TB. He said 235 Basic Management Units (BMUs) had been established in public hospitals, offering free diagnosis, treatment, consultation, and counseling for TB patients.

Additionally, added the adviser, 1,450 general practitioners from the private sector had been integrated into the TB care network, significantly improving case detection and preventing hidden transmissions.

The adviser revealed that the programme had successfully provided free treatment to over 800,000 TB patients to date. In addition, focused interventions are underway to reduce the spread of drug-resistant TB, with approximately 2,100 cases reported annually in the province. Over 4,000 drug-resistant TB patients have already received free, specialized care.

Ihtesham also shed light on the high cost of managing drug-resistant TB, noting that treating one patient could cost up to Rs 1 million.DG Health Dr Mohammad Saleem highlighted the integration of HIV testing at all TB diagnosis centres across the province.

He added that 10 mobile vans equipped with digital X-rays and GeneXpert machines were deployed to ensure early detection, particularly in remote areas.The official emphasized the role of 60 GeneXpert sites and 73 machines in facilitating swift and accurate TB diagnosis, while advanced molecular diagnostic tools - including 4 COBAS machines and 5 Drug-Resistant Units - are actively contributing to TB control efforts.

Dr Saleem said that the establishment of 14 additional Multi-Drug Resistant (MDR) TB treatment sites at grassroots levels was helping ensure more accessible care for patients across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.