France committed to help Thailand fight TB

Thailand is among the 22 most affected countries with tuberculosis worldwide. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), with about 130 000 new TB cases every year in Thailand, and 16 per cent of these cases among people living with HIV.
One of the main concerns is the rise of multi-drug resistance, meaning 1st line regimen being ineffective for 1.6 per cent of new cases (among people without previous TB) and for 34.5 per cent of relapsed tuberculosis (among people with a history of TB). A multi-drug resistant TB is much more complex to treat and cure, as therapeutic combinations are fewer; they are also much more expensive.
Thailand sustains its response to intensify diagnostics and access to treatment for everyone, with the support of WHO and also the Global Fund against Aids, TB and malaria, and other
partners.France remains one of the most committed donor countries; its support to the Global Fund is 360 million euros in 2015, the second most important contribution, and France is the most important donor to Unitaid, an initiative to correct market imperfections by facilitating access to medicines, including treatment against multi-drug resistant TB.
Eric Fleutelot
Regional Health Counsellor in Asean,  French Embassy
Bangkok