The 2024 WHO Global Tuberculosis Report states that one-fourth of the world’s population is estimated to have been infected with tuberculosis (TB). The vast majority of them are not infectious and show no signs and symptoms of TB disease, but are at risk of developing TB and becoming infectious. Without addressing TB infection, we will not get close to our vision of a world free of TB.

The First Meeting of the Task Force on DR-TPT

On July 10, 2025, the Task Force on Drug-Resistant TB Preventive Treatment (DR-TPT) convened by the National TB Control Program of the Department of Health of the Philippines together with KNCV TB Plus, held its first meeting to prepare the interim country guidelines for the implementation of DR-TPT in the Philippines.

During this first encounter, the Task Force on DR-TPT discussed the recently published landmark clinical trials on preventive therapy for DR-TB contacts, namely the VQUIN and TB-CHAMP trials, the GRADE evidences on the use of 6 months of levofloxacin for DR-TB preventive therapy in the WHO Consolidated Guidelines, as well as the country experiences on the implementation of DS-TPT.

The Task Force on DR-TPT

The multi-disciplinary Task Force is chaired by Dr. Charisse Malbacias, National TB Program Manager (Department of Health), supported by representatives from both the private and public sectors, namely, the National TB Reference Laboratory (NTRL), KNCV TB Plus, PeerLINC/Tropical Disease Foundation, Philippine Tuberculosis Society, Inc, WHO-country office, Philippine Society for Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Pediatric Infectious Disease Society of the Philippines, Philippine Coalition Against Tuberculosis, National TB Medical Advisory Committee, Metro Manila Center for Health Development-DOH, and the Manila City Health Office.