At a conference to review the prevention and control of TB between 2007 and 2008, which took place in Hanoi on January 16, Deputy Health Minister Dr. Nguyen Thi Xuyen revealed that the number of new TB patients in 2008 was 60 percent higher than previous WHO estimates, describing it as a huge challenge facing the country.

She also warned of a possible surge in TB infections among sufferers of HIV/AIDS.

In 2009, the Ministry of Health plans to establish an anti-TB network covering all communes and wards to provide nationwide support to the detection and cure of TB.

It aims to increase the provision of community-based diagnoses and treatment services and ensure cooperation between the State and the private sector in the fight against TB.

The ministry will also integrate anti-TB programmes into HIV/AIDS programmes at all levels in an attempt to reduce the rate of TB infections among HIV carriers.

According to the World Health Organisation, Vietnam ranks 12th among 22 countries that are struggling to tackle high rates of drug-resistant TB, which is costly and difficult to treat.