Hongqi Pharmaceutical
HONGQI PHARMACEUTICAL
Cherish life, pay attention to health.
CHERISH LIFE CARE ABOUT HEALTH
Yes! We can end tuberculosis: more equitable treatment, giving more patients hope.
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Add time:2026-04-13 12:01
On March 24, 2026, World Tuberculosis Day once again calls for a global concerted effort to end the tuberculosis epidemic. This year’s global theme, “Yes! We can end TB! Led by countries! Powered by people!” conveys a clear message: ending tuberculosis requires the joint participation of governments, civil society, and the public.
In the tuberculosis control system, in addition to efficacy and safety, drug accessibility and affordability are equally critical. For a long time, treatment for drug‑resistant tuberculosis has been characterized by prolonged regimens, complex medication regimens, and high medical costs, which have to some extent limited patients’ access to timely, standardized care. In recent years, as new anti‑tuberculosis drugs have been progressively incorporated into the national tuberculosis control framework and the national health insurance formulary, treatment for drug‑resistant TB is moving toward greater equity and universal access—exemplified by regimens such as BPaL. (The WHO’s recommended short-course treatment regimen) An innovative treatment regimen, characterized by all‑oral administration, a short course, and a simplified protocol, makes the management of drug‑resistant tuberculosis more convenient and accessible.
First, short-course therapy significantly reduces overall healthcare costs. Conventional treatment for drug-resistant tuberculosis typically spans nearly two years, whereas the BPaL regimen markedly shortens the treatment duration, substantially alleviating the financial burden associated with prolonged care—covering hospitalization expenses, repeated diagnostic tests, and indirect economic losses resulting from extended illness. The shortened treatment course not only eases the financial strain on patients’ families but also enhances the efficiency of healthcare resource utilization.
Secondly, streamlined treatment regimens reduce the administrative burden on healthcare systems. Fewer drug combinations translate into clearer, more standardized care pathways, thereby enabling primary-care facilities to implement standardized treatment and follow-up management more effectively.
In addition, all‑oral regimens have markedly enhanced the convenience of treatment for patients. Patients no longer need to visit the hospital frequently for injectable therapies and can complete the entire course under the guidance of their physicians, thereby improving treatment adherence, reducing the risk of treatment failure and drug resistance caused by interruptions or suboptimal medication use, and further enhancing overall therapeutic outcomes.
As the third innovative anti-tuberculosis drug in the past decade, Puteomani has set a new record for the lowest reimbursement price among its class. Previously, a six-month course of treatment cost nearly RMB 90,000 out-of-pocket, deterring most patients. Following its inclusion in the national medical insurance scheme, the drug’s price has dropped by approximately 60%, significantly reducing patients’ co-payment burden. Compared with two other innovative drugs, Puteomani boasts a clear price advantage, serving as a vivid example of China’s medical insurance policy of “ensuring basic coverage and improving people’s livelihoods.”
In China, as the national tuberculosis prevention and control system continues to improve, innovative drugs and novel treatment regimens are being progressively introduced and implemented, offering new therapeutic options to an increasing number of patients with drug‑resistant tuberculosis. Ending tuberculosis is not only a medical challenge but also a social undertaking. Only by ensuring that cutting‑edge medical technologies truly reach every patient can we ultimately achieve the goal of eradicating tuberculosis. On World Tuberculosis Day, let us join forces—advancing innovation, enhancing accessibility, and promoting universal coverage—so that more patients can regain their health and hope. For when treatment reaches everyone in need, the future of ending tuberculosis will be one step closer.
