The distribution channel of Antituberculous drugs
19 June 2020
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Thailand is struggling with tuberculosis (TB) and is one of the 14 countries worst hit by this severely infectious disease. The statistical data shows that Thailand has around 120,000 TB cases with 12,000 people dying of the disease. Interestingly, 30 percent of TB cases have not received proper treatment, even though TB can be cured successfully within six months. TB does not always cause the classic symptoms of coughing, weight loss, night sweats, and blood-streaked sputum, but these symptoms may develop, and death may occur if the disease is not properly treated. Untreated disease also puts others at risk of infection and only a full course of treatment will address the problem.
In 2017, the Disease Control Department put in place a five-year goal (2017–2021) to rid Thailand of TB. To facilitate the action plan, on 28 June 2019, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced the establishment of “The distribution channel of Antituberculous drugs” to control their distribution. Antituberculous drugs are now classified as controlled substances. Significantly, the FDA’s distribution channel is designed to control the producers or importers of Antituberculous drugs both oral products and injections—except oral Fluoroquinolones and oral Macrolide antibiotics. Such Antituberculous drugs are allowed to be distributed only via hospitals and nursing homes under the Disease Control Department project.
The main objective of such announcement is to reduce the number of improperly treated cases where patients may discontinue medication or purchase drugs themselves. Therefore, prescribed TB treatment must be completed via drug reclassification and controlled distribution channels. The results are expected to increase the success of TB treatment, reduce the side effects of the drug as well as possibly the drug-resistant problem.
A list of hospitals and nursing homes under the Disease Control Department project can be found on the Food and Drug Administration website: http://www.fda.moph.go.th/sites/Drug/Pages/Main.aspx or http://ndifda.moph.go.th/ndi_home
References
Announcement from the Food and Drug Administration: “The distribution channel of Antituberculous drugs” on 28 June 2019.
The situation of Tuberculous decease in Thailand, retrieved from Office of Tuberculous, Department of Decease Control.
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