Respirology : official journal of the Asian Pacific Society of Respirology
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Tuberculosis (TB) is the top killer of the productive age group in developing countries. More than half of cases in the world occur in Asia-Pacific region. The number of cases will increase in the next decades due to increase in urban poor population and HIV incidence, and poor access to health services and poor TB programme. ⋯ There is a strong correlation between the overall quality of TB control in the past and the current primary drug-resistant rate. To solve these problems, priority should be given to nationwide implementation of DOTS in high TB-burden countries with emphasis on ensuring availability of free anti-TB drugs and strengthening primary health care. General hospitals and private sector should be involved in control programmes to prevent drug resistant cases.