Peru Advances in the Treatment and Prevention of Drug-Resistant tuberculosis

*This news release originally appeared on the Ministry of Health, Peru website

Peru continues to lead the implementation of innovative tuberculosis (TB) treatments in the region. In February 2024, the country became one of the first to adopt the BPaLM (bedaquiline, pretomanid, linezolid, and moxifloxacin) regimen, recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) for the treatment of drug-resistant tuberculosis.

To date, 790 patients have received this regimen, while a total of 1,231 people have benefited from shortened oral treatments, achieving a better quality of life and increasing the therapeutic success rate.

In addition to advances in treatment, the country has strengthened disease prevention. More than 5,600 people began TB preventive therapy, prioritizing children in contact with active cases, people living with HIV, healthcare workers, inmates in prisons, and patients with chronic diseases.

Deputy Minister of Public Health Ricardo Peña highlighted the impact of the new treatments on patients with multidrug-resistant tuberculosis. “Our country is one of the pioneers in implementing shortened treatments for multidrug-resistant patients. Previously, therapy took about two years, including daily injectables, but now, treatment is reduced to just six months and is exclusively oral, which is revolutionary because treatment success has increased from 60% to 90% and dropout rates have decreased from 25% to 7%. The progress made in recent years is a historic milestone,” she said.

Dr. Valentina Alarcón, Executive Director of Tuberculosis Prevention and Control at the Ministry of Health, highlighted the importance of this strategy for public health. “The implementation of the BPaLM regimen and the expansion of preventive therapy mark a before and after in the fight against tuberculosis in the country. We are ensuring that more people have access to effective treatments with fewer adverse effects, which improves their quality of life and reduces disease transmission,” she noted.

Timely access to treatment is key to combating tuberculosis. In Peru, TB medications are free and available in all Ministry of Health health facilities, ensuring that every patient receives the care necessary for their recovery.