Abstract

CHIRICO, Cristina et al. Economic protection law for improved tuberculosis treatment. Salud(i)Ciencia [online]. 2018, vol.23, n.3, pp.1-10. ISSN 1667-8682.  http://dx.doi.org/10.21840/siic/159135.

Regulatory Decree 170/91 of Law 10436 created a legal framework designed to ensure the socio-economic protection of patients suffering from TB. It consisted of the monthly payment of a minimum salary for employees in the local public administration. The evaluation criteria employed by the health team assessed who could be included in the protection law, their social situation and permanent residence of at least two years in the province of Buenos Aires, Argentina. The aim of our study was to analyze the differences in clinical and epidemiological data between patients included in the law and those not included, and whether the benefit was a factor in the outcome of the treatment. We describe a retrospective observational study that took place from January 1, 2004 to December 31, 2016. People receiving the benefit showed a good outcome in 93.1% of the total cases, 91.1% in confirmed lung cases, 83.7% in the TB-HIV association / AIDS and 81.5% in MDR-TB. In patients not receiving the benefit the success rates were 74.4%, 73.9%, 53.6% and 58.9%, respectively. The differences were statistically significant between both groups. The economic protection law was essential in motivating the patients and in following those cases of difficult management, thus improving treatment adherence. Overcoming TB means not only improving the use of current tools and interventions but also considering the possibility of extending or approving similar laws in Argentina.

Keywords : economic incentive; amparo law; adherence; treatment success; tuberculosis.

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