LOW-INCOME tuberculosis (TB) patients who need to visit polyclinics regularly for their treatment can now get grocery vouchers, as long as they stick to the treatment regime.

Each patient will receive $300 worth of grocery vouchers which will be given out monthly over six months.

This new initiative by the Singapore Anti-Tuberculosis Association (SATA) CommHealth comes in the wake of more patients defaulting on their treatment. There were also 1,451 TB cases here last year, the highest in a decade.

Said chairman of SATA CommHealth Prof Mak Yuen Teen: 'Undergoing a medication programme for between six to nine months may be long and tedious for the patients.'

The Directly Observed Treatment (DOT) programme requires patients to report to the polyclinic regularly for their medication.

Many of those who fail to complete the treatment often have social and financial problems, said Prof Mak, who hopes that the voucher incentive will encourage patients to stay on course and be cured.

For this, $180,000 has been set aside. SATA CommHealth will work with Tan Tock Seng Hospital's Tuberculosis Control Unit to identify needy patients.

The announcement of the initiativewas made at the opening of SATA CommHealth's fourth medical centre on Wednesday.

The new centre at Ang Mo Kio Avenue 6 offers general consultations, health checks and imaging services like mammograms and ultrasounds. A variety of heart and lung tests can also be done there.

The proceeds from the medical centres fund SATA CommHealth's community services, which range from health screening for the elderly and needy to health education programmes.