Deploy vans to treat TB patients

Tuberculosis patients currently suffer great inconvenience when going for directly observed therapy ("Some TB patients feel depressed: Survey"; July 13).

The possible adverse outcomes include having patients stop going for treatment, which contributes to the development of drug-resistant bugs, and when they quit their jobs.

The administration of directly observed therapy (DOT) should be further enhanced, perhaps by deploying vans.

Patients can choose to have their sessions done in a van parked at their workplace, or a short distance away, if there are privacy concerns.

There can be a small charge for transport and time - patients will surely pay.

Meanwhile, the fact that some patients are hiding their illness from their colleagues is wrong, as that places their fellow workers at risk. There should be outreach programmes to tackle this issue.

Seow Joo Heng

Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.