Coercive measures to improve tuberculosis control may raise stigma — being more people-centred will help

Tuberculosis (TB) is an endemic infectious disease in Singapore that affects up to 30 per cent of older age groups. Despite the treatments being readily available and subsidised by the Ministry of Health, non-adherence to the full course of treatment remains a pressing challenge.

Associate Professor Hsu Li Yang from the NUS Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health and Professor Ho Yew Kee from the Singapore Institute of Technology commemorates World TB Day with their reflections on the challenges of TB treatment adherence. They shared how moving away from coercive measures can be beneficial, and the need to examine social aspects that hinder adherence to achieve improved treatment completion rates.

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