The National Tuberculosis Control Programme, the Ministry of Health, and the World Health Organisation on May 14 jointly organised a conference to review the project themed “Coordination in TB management in general hospitals”.

Associate Professor, Doctor Nguyen Viet Nhung, Deputy Director of the National Lung Hospital , said that the project was carried out from November, 2010 to March, 2013 at four major general hospitals, namely Bach Mai General Hospital , Hue Central Hospital , Cho Ray Hospital and the Central Hospital of Endocrinology, as well as an endocrinology specialist hospital , Nguyen Tri Phuong Hospital .

The objective of the project was to improve TB diagnosis and TB therapy diagnosis in other public hospitals in an effort to reduce TB burdens, prevent anti-drug TB and equip medical staff and patients with knowledge of bacterial contamination.

To fulfil its mission, the project has so far established the Directly Observed Treatment Short-course Strategy (DOTS) in the five hospitals, accommodated diagnostic equipment, and founded a national consultation board and a project coordination group.

Thanks to the project, 6,560 TB patients have been diagnosed, the number of tests for TB has increased from 24 percent in 2011 to 34.7 percent in 2012.

In the coming time, the work will be maintained in the benefited hospitals, ensuring early TB detection, providing adequate medical equipment for TB diagnosis, and improving doctor’s capability to detect TB through training courses.-VNA