The 2018 Philippine Tuberculosis (TB) Drug Resistance Survey is the latest among a series of periodic nationwide surveillance activities spearheaded by the National Tuberculosis Reference Laboratory (NTRL). These surveys aim to measure the prevalence of drug-resistance in bacteriologically confirmed cases. The previous survey in 2021 found that the prevalence of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) was at 2% and 20% respectively for new cases (n=2,468) and previously treated patients (n=194). From then, various changes were implemented in the National TB Control Program, including introduction of new diagnostic technologies and changes in treatment regimen. An updated survey was therefore needed to take these changes into account and to assess the current burden of drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB). The 2018 survey is intended to be the final periodic survey done as the program begins to shift into routine surveillance.

Read our policy brief here to know more about how we can strengthen the surveillance of drug-resistant tuberculosis.