Extensively drug resistant tuberculosis: Problem will get worse in South Africa unless poverty is alleviated

doi:10.1136/bmj.333.7570.705-a

BMJ 2006;333:705 (30 September), doi:10.1136/bmj.333.7570.705-a

Letter

Extensively drug resistant tuberculosis

Problem will get worse in South Africa unless poverty is alleviated

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

EDITOR—The rising incidence and death rate from tuberculosis,as well as the emergence of multidrug resistant organisms inSouth Africa and elsewhere,¹ result more from social than medicalfailure. With living conditions for millions of people remainingat the level of pre-industrial revolution Britain and with inadequatehealthcare services that cannot even remotely provide treatmentfor all who need it in good time and for the full duration required,the problem of multidrug resistance can only get worse.²³ Longstandingrecognition of the reasons for failure of tuberculosis controlhas had little effect on governments or the corporate worldof economic power.⁴⁵

The substantial economic growth in South Africa since 1994 hasbeen achieved by largely abandoning pre-transition plans fora reconstruction and development programme in favour of neo-liberaleconomic policies that benefit a limited segment of the population.Many jobs have been lost, new job creation has been . . . [Full text of this article]

Solomon R Benatar, professor of medicine

Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Observatory 7925, Cape Town, South Africa sbenatar@uctgsh1.uct.ac.za

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