In a historic alliance between the association Peruanos por Peruanos, TB Alliance and Socios En Salud, a donation of 100 doses of Pretomanid was secured, which, together with two other drugs, completes the scheme that reduces the duration of treatment and also eliminates injectables, making it a more person-friendly process. This action will allow the health system to start adopting one of the shortest and most efficient TB treatment regimens.
The donation of 18,200 tablets of Pretomanid was symbolically received by Dr. Nancy Zerpa, Deputy Executive of the Vice-Ministerial Office of Public Health, who recognized the importance of this collaboration and renewed the Ministry of Health’s commitment to the fight against tuberculosis.
“The important thing about this collaboration is that thanks to this medicine MINSA will soon be able to implement a 6-month scheme for the treatment of MDR-TB patients. Important event that, above all, we hope will decrease the suffering of people who have the misfortune to cross paths with this terrible disease. Thanks to all the colleagues who helped make this a reality,” said Dr. Leonid Lecca, CEO of Socios En Salud, the organization responsible for the logistics of this delivery.
The delivery of this drug is the product of coordinated work that began with the initiative of TB Alliance, the organization in charge of developing this drug along with the complete scheme that shortens the old treatment.
“Peru has a serious tuberculosis problem that very few people understand. A patient in those conditions (long treatment) has a very difficult life. When we heard about this problem we decided to act and mobilize other people and organizations. It is great news that MINSA finally adopts this treatment that is nowadays the global standard”, indicated Juan Fernando Correa, director of Peruanos por Peruanos, the financing institution of this donation.
After this work where the political will and the technical decision were decisive to make it happen, it is up to MINSA to start implementing this new scheme in a programmatic way and to achieve the necessary adherence so that the path to the patients’ wellbeing is fast and more friendly. To achieve this, the State, civil society and the private sector will continue to work together.
“We are very happy at the Ministry of Health for this collaboration between Socios En Salud, Peruanos and TB Alliance for these new drugs delivered. In the Americas region only 3 countries have them, Peru is one of them. There is going to be a change in the treatment from 18 months to 6 months, reincorporating the patient into society sooner, and it is also a friendlier treatment for everyone. Approximately, in the fortnight of February is our deadline to start implementing the new scheme,” announced the director of the Tuberculosis Prevention and Control Directorate, Valentina Alarcón.
This marks a new milestone in the fight against tuberculosis in Peru, which along with other strategies, brings modern science closer to those who need it most.
