The Taiwan Multidrug-resistant Tuberculosis Consortium (TMTC) was established by the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (Taiwan CDC) on May 1, 2007. The treatment program implemented by TMTC has improved the preliminary outcome among MDR-TB patients. The 12-month sputum culture negative rate among new MDR-TB cases after treatment provided by 5 professional medical teams constituting TMTC has reached as high as 90% on average. 

       MDR-TB has been included as a notifiable disease in Taiwan since 2006. According to surveillance data, around 1% of the newly reported TB cases are MDR-TB. In order to solve the aforementioned issue and respond appropriately to the warning issued by WHO, Taiwan CDC has continued to strengthen the implementation of the DOTS (directly observed treatment, short course) program to prevent the occurrence of new MDR-TB cases resulted from irregular treatment. In addition, Taiwan CDC has increased the capacity of its mycobacterium reference laboratory to identify MDR-TB patients early by improving the accuracy and shortening the time of diagnosis.

       In May, 2007, Taiwan CDC went a step further and established TMTC to manage and care for MDR-TB patients. Taiwan CDC signed a contract with more than 30 hospitals led by 5 professional medical teams, including Chest Hospital, Chang-Hua Hospital, Tao-Yuan General Hospital, Wan-Fang Hospital and the National Tuberculosis Association.

       MDR-TB patients should continue medication for 18 months after conversion of sputum culture from positive to negative, and need to be monitored for adverse events during the course of treatment. The treatment for MDR-TB patients is more complex and longer compared to that for ordinary TB patients. Each hospital participating in the management of MDR-TB patients should execute DOTS-Plus program. Some medical teams have even organized fleets of vehicles to deliver drugs to the patients and have closely monitored patients’ response to or any side effects of drugs. The management of MDR-TB patients by hospitals and local health departments are thus integrated. Furthermore, each medical team has also published their achievements at international conferences and on international journals, arousing echoes from many countries around the world.

       Taiwan CDC also periodically monitors the TMTC treatment outcome. As of August, 2009, the cases cared for by TMTC had covered 87% of the reported MDR-TB patients who met the program enrollment criteria. Moreover, 123 cases have completed their treatment provided by TMTC. Taiwan CDC will continue to supervise TMTC and to effectively control MDR-TB in Taiwan.