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Don't ignore TB in foreigners: experts
By Woo Sian Boon, TODAY | Posted: 01 May 2012 0647 hrs
SINGAPORE: Even as the Ministry of Health (MOH) reviews its tuberculosis (TB) elimination programme, two experts here have called on policymakers to first acknowledge and address TB in foreigners and its impact on the local population.
Writing in last month's edition of the Singapore Medical Journal, Dr Cynthia Chee and Dr Wang Yee Tang, who are both from the TB Control Unit at Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH), said: "It is clear that TB control in Singapore is now at a crossroad, and that additional measures and resources are critically needed in our battle against this disease of global public health importance. Pivotal to this is to acknowledge and address TB in foreigners and its impact on the local population."
They added: "In today's highly interconnected world, it must be recognised that 'TB anywhere is TB everywhere', and that policies that ignore this reality are self-defeating in the long-run."
To address the resurgence of TB, Dr Chee and Dr Wang argued that medical evaluation should be made "as affordable as possible, regardless of residency status".
Outpatient insurance coverage for TB should be mandated for all foreigners residing here, while the authorities should allow the use of Medisave funds to cover outpatient expenses, they added.
Also, foreigners with TB who live and work here should be treated under the national TB programme, which involves direct supervision of patients to ensure they take their medication.
Don't ignore TB in foreigners: experts
By Woo Sian Boon, TODAY | Posted: 01 May 2012 0647 hrs
SINGAPORE: Even as the Ministry of Health (MOH) reviews its tuberculosis (TB) elimination programme, two experts here have called on policymakers to first acknowledge and address TB in foreigners and its impact on the local population.
Writing in last month's edition of the Singapore Medical Journal, Dr Cynthia Chee and Dr Wang Yee Tang, who are both from the TB Control Unit at Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH), said: "It is clear that TB control in Singapore is now at a crossroad, and that additional measures and resources are critically needed in our battle against this disease of global public health importance. Pivotal to this is to acknowledge and address TB in foreigners and its impact on the local population."
They added: "In today's highly interconnected world, it must be recognised that 'TB anywhere is TB everywhere', and that policies that ignore this reality are self-defeating in the long-run."
To address the resurgence of TB, Dr Chee and Dr Wang argued that medical evaluation should be made "as affordable as possible, regardless of residency status".
Outpatient insurance coverage for TB should be mandated for all foreigners residing here, while the authorities should allow the use of Medisave funds to cover outpatient expenses, they added.
Also, foreigners with TB who live and work here should be treated under the national TB programme, which involves direct supervision of patients to ensure they take their medication.
