The Department of Health (DOH) 1 (Ilocos Region) has reported a 90 percent to 97 percent success rate in tuberculosis (TB) treatment across the region’s four provinces.

Citing DOH-1 data, Regional Communicable Disease Prevention Unit Head, Dr. Rheuel Bobis, said Ilocos Sur posted the highest treatment success rate at 97.23 percent, followed by Pangasinan, 93.10 percent; La Union, 92.40 percent; and Ilocos Norte, 91.93 percent.

He said in a phone interview on Wednesday that the DOH continues to procure TB commodities at the local government unit level while active case-finding has been strengthened.

“With the financial support of our implementing partner, the Philippine Business for Social Progress, for the conduct of active case-finding activities,” he said.

The DOH is also expanding TB diagnostic laboratories across the region to improve detection and treatment.

DOH-1 targets to screen at least 17 percent of the region’s total population or diagnose 4 percent of the region’s population; treat by adopting patient-centered care; and prevent by adopting shorter TB preventive treatment, Bobis said.

He said they continue to promote early testing, treatment, and community action to stop the spread of TB through mobile screening where a mobile laboratory would visit communities with TB patients, community and facility-based chest X-ray screening, and the use of the Integrated Tuberculosis Information System (ITIS) for reporting and tracking TB cases.

“Kailangang lahat ng mga miyembro ng pamilya at mga individual na in-contact sa isang TB patient ay dumaan sa screening upang masiguro na sila ay hindi nahawaan ng sakit na TB (All members of the family and individuals in contact with TB patients should undergo screening to ensure that they are not infected),” he said.

Based on DOH-1 data, 1,738 cases were detected in Ilocos Sur in 2024; 3,139 in Ilocos Norte; 4,103 in La Union; and 14,525 in Pangasinan.

Bobis added that there are 2,819 notified TB cases in the region from Jan. 1 to Feb. 28.

“TB is curable and we have the treatment and medicines to prevent it. It is safe and free,” DOH-1 Director Paula Paz Sydiongco said in a statement. (PNA)