A new tuberculosis hospital for convicts is planned to be built in Belarus

April 9, Orsha / Elena Prus - BELTA /. A new tuberculosis hospital for convicts is planned to be built in Belarus. This was announced today by Pavel Shakalo, Deputy Head of the Department of Penitentiary Systems of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, at the opening of an information and educational center at the Republican Tuberculosis Hospital of Correctional Institution-12 (Orsha), BELTA correspondent reports. The representative of the Ministry of Internal Affairs noted that earlier a global reconstruction of the Republican Tuberculosis Hospital of Correctional Institution-12 was envisaged, and this project was included in the state investment program. However, as geological studies have shown, the construction of this facility in this territory is impossible. "Currently, a site is being selected for the future construction of a tuberculosis hospital for convicted patients," said Pavel Shakalo. "This institution will meet the most modern requirements." Funds from the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria may be attracted to equip the new tuberculosis hospital. This primarily concerns the financing of the department for patients with multidrug-resistant forms of tuberculosis. Currently, about 900 convicted patients with active tuberculosis, who arrived from various correctional institutions of the republic, are undergoing treatment at the Republican Tuberculosis Hospital of Correctional Institution-12. About 500 patients are in inpatient care, the rest are receiving outpatient treatment. According to Alexander Grinevich, Head of the Republican Tuberculosis Hospital of Correctional Institution-12, the incidence of tuberculosis in the penitentiary system of Belarus in 2008 was 303.6 per 100,000 population. This is almost 7 times higher than the average republican indicator, and the incidence of HIV-associated tuberculosis in prisons is three times higher. Treatment of patients with first-line anti-tuberculosis drugs costs $5 per course. In case of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis, the treatment is much longer, more complex and expensive (over $10,000). As part of the UNDP project "Support for the State Program 'Tuberculosis' in the Republic of Belarus," first-line anti-tuberculosis drugs have been purchased for the treatment of 200 patients. In April of this year, treatment of 100 convicts with multidrug-resistant tuberculosis will begin. -0-