Papua New Guinea Expands Access to Six-Month, All-Oral Treatment for Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis

Papua New Guinea (PNG) has begun rolling out #6MonthsMax, all-oral treatment regimens for drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB), replacing older therapies that required up to 18 months of treatment and often included injectable drugs. The six-month, World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed BPaL/M regimen is being implemented through the country’s National Tuberculosis Program with support from the Burnet Institute, TB Alliance, the Australian Government, and the WHO. 

PNG records an estimated 2,400 cases of drug-resistant TB each year. The new regimen has initially been introduced in Port Moresby and Daru, with planned expansion to additional provinces such as Morobe. Health officials anticipate that the shorter regimen could contribute to increased treatment uptake and reduced transmission.  

Health authorities also note that the shorter regimen has the potential to reduce hospital-related costs by up to 60%, which may ease pressure on healthcare resources and lower financial barriers for patients. 

Maduwa Geawi, among the first patients to begin the new treatment in Daru, spoke about his experience. “I had no symptoms and didn’t realize I had tuberculosis. It was only through routine screening that it was detected. I’m happy that I’ll only need to take this treatment for six months, rather than 18 months,” he said. 

PNG joins a growing list of countries adopting this WHO-recommended regimen, aligning with global efforts to improve access to TB treatment and reduce the burden of drug-resistant forms of the disease. BPaL/M recently experienced significant cost reductions further promoting widespread access to #6MonthMax regimens. 

Read the announcement from Burnet Institute here.