Policy and Strategy for Tuberculosis Among the Elderly in Taiwan

Chang,Shuo-Hsueh

《臺灣台北醫療聯盟學術期刊》 2期 (2021/11) Pp. 51-59

https://doi.org/10.29498/TMAAJ.202111_(2).0005

摘要

CDC data highlights the Tuberculosis pestilence in Taiwan with an estimated 10,328 multi-drug resistant tuberculosis infections and 550 deaths. According to research, the elderly are more susceptible to TB contraction, moreso a population older than 65 years. Therefore, the dire state of TB's prevalence in Taiwan compelled the formulation of the Half TB Action Plan to effectively eradicate the highly infectious disease. The action plan entailed the coordination of active case finding, aggressive contact investigation, the improved treatment of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis, and the Directly Observed Treatment Short Course (DOTS) programme. However, existing policies in Taiwan fail to significantly alleviate TB among the elderly as they prove their effectiveness only on the young population, thus compelling the need to enact effective policies. To help in the course, the US government has a strategically formulated policy dedicated to attenuating multidrug-resistant TB and extensively drug-resistant TB. Furthermore, existing policy suggestions in Taiwan focus on developing distinct elderly-oriented policies to combat the infections and risk of reactivation. Consequently, adopting interventions that have worked elsewhere like Isoniazid preventive therapy among the elderly in China poses a higher probability of working in Taiwan. To track the effectiveness of the action plan, relevant data will be collected to aid in monitoring its effectiveness or shortcomings.