Electronic TBDC Presented in Hongkong

According to WHO Global Report in TB, Philippines rank nine among the 22 TB burden countries in the world.  It is no wonder why in the South-East Asian region, the country remains to have the highest number of deaths among infectious diseases.

In the Philippines, the TB Diagnostic Committee (TBDC) evaluates difficult to handle TB cases. Such cases are those patients whose x-ray results suggest they are TB positive but whose lab sputum results indicate “smear negative”. Smear negative means that TB bacteria is not present in the sputum sample. Cases like this need special attention from specialists. However, this remains unaddressed due to the country’s geographical limitations. Most of the time chest specialists hardly reach remote areas.

This problems spurs telehealth solutions by establishing eTBDC (electronic TBDC). The eTBDC meets through convenient electronic means, which maximize time, eliminates travel, and reduces related costs for health care delivery.

UP-Manila National Telehealth Center presented one of its research entitled “An Online Method for Diagnosis of Difficult TB Cases for Developing Countries: A Multi-Institutional Study” this July 2011 at the Asia-Pacific International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases Asia-Pacific Conference (IUATLD) in Hongkong...