Essential tuberculosis medicines and health outcomes in countries with a national essential medicines list.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Tuberculosis (TB) remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality globally despite effective treatments. Along with high-quality health services, essential medicines are a key tool in curbing TB related mortality. Examining relationships between listing TB medicines on national essential medicines lists (NEMLs) and population health outcomes related to amenable mortality is one way to assess TB care.

Methods

In this cross-sectional study of 137 countries, we used linear regression to examine the relationship between the number of TB medicines listed on NEMLs and TB related mortality while controlling for country income, region and TB burden.

Results

Most countries listed essential TB medicines to treat latent, drug-sensitive and disseminated TB but few lis

SUBMITTER: Maraj D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8924688 | biostudies-literature | 2022 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature