General Information
Fullname: Demand Generation & Market Access to Drive Faster BPaL/M Adoption and Availability
Donor(s): TB Alliance
Period: 2022 - 2023
Location: Online
Implementer: Health and Social Protection Program
Vietnam is among countries with the highest burden of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) in the world (Global Tuberculosis Report 2021, WHO) with an estimated 8,400 people having MDR-TB/rifampicin-resistant TB (RR-TB) each year. For many years, DRTB patients have been treated with a regimen lasting up to 18 months, requiring 07 different medications and involving more than 14,000 pills, including injections. Despite such intensive treatment, the treatment success rate is only about 70%.
Recently, BPaL/M, a new six-month, all-oral, three-drug regimen with high efficacy, has been developed and introduced. WHO recommends it as the standard for DR-TB treatment because of its ability to lift the MDR-TB treatment success rate to 90% and reduce the associated side effects. In 2021 - 2023, Vietnam conducted the phase-3 clinical trial on BPaL/M in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Can Tho. In January 2024, BPaL/M regimen was included in the updated national guideline on TB treatment and its application has been expanded to 21 provinces/cities.
In 2023, SCDI joined a regional consortium and project called Fast Track the Cure, using communications to drive faster BPaL/M national adoption and availability. We developed communication products based on true stories of BPaL patients, community members supporting DR-TB patients and also DR-TB survivors who have experienced the conventional regimens. We provide information on TB and prevention, convey positive messages about treatment, and raise awareness of the new DR-TB regimen and its availability. In addition, we can increase community engagement, especially the TB-affected communities and the community-based systems supporting TB patients. Community engagement is critical in improving the novel regimen’s implementation, from accelerating wider adoption, ensuring access for all to improving treatment adherence through community-based support.
For more information, please visit: https://www.fasttrackthecure.org/
Focal Person
(Ms.) Nguyen Thi Kim Dung - Health and Social Protection Program Manager
