Lanong Public Welfare Fund Officially Launched to Combat Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis in Yunnan Province

KunmingDecember 3, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The China Primary Health Care Foundation, sponsored by the Chinese Peasants and Workers Democratic Party and supervised by the National Health Commission, announced today the official establishment of its “Lannong Public Welfare Fund.” The fund is dedicated to improving the prevention and control of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) in China. Leaders and representatives from various organizations, including the Chinese Peasants and Workers Democratic Party, the China Primary Health Care Foundation, Xian Janssen Pharmaceutical Ltd., and AliHealth, together with Professor Zhang Wenhong, Director of the Department of Infectious Diseases at Huashan Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University, jointly attended the launch ceremony.

Representatives from all parties jointly launch the “Lannong Public Welfare Fund”

Tuberculosis has become one of the most severe challenges in the global public health sector. According to statistics from the World Health Organization, approximately 10 million people worldwide were infected with tuberculosis in 2019.^[1]“Currently, China has over 860,000 new tuberculosis cases annually.”^[2], approximately ten times the number of local COVID-19 patients^[3]“Tuberculosis prevention and control remains a formidable and long-term challenge,” stated Professor Zhang Wenhong in his address at the launch ceremony. Among the various forms of the disease, multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) is characterized by prolonged infectiousness, complex treatment regimens, extended duration of therapy, high costs, poor treatment adherence, low cure rates, and high case fatality rates, making it a key difficulty and priority in China’s tuberculosis control efforts.

“The Lannong Public Welfare Fund” will support the enhancement of clinical capabilities among grassroots healthcare professionals in multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) prevention and control, improve access to advanced treatment regimens, benefit more MDR-TB patients, and promote the implementation of Yunnan Province’s public welfare initiative for MDR-TB elimination.

Representatives from All Parties Sign Strategic Cooperation Agreement for the Yunnan Province Multidrug-Resistant Tuberculosis Elimination Public Welfare Program

At the subsequent training conference for Yunnan Province’s tuberculosis control system, Professor Zhang Wenhong and leaders from the Yunnan Provincial Health Commission respectively introduced and shared insights on the public welfare assistance project for eliminating drug-resistant tuberculosis in Yunnan Province and the provincial medical insurance policies for drug-resistant tuberculosis. The training was attended by 17 hospital directors, 17 department heads from designated hospitals for multidrug-resistant tuberculosis under the Yunnan Provincial Health Commission, and 80 physicians from county-level hospitals. Participants engaged in case sharing and in-depth discussions focused on addressing multidrug-resistant tuberculosis, a major public health challenge.

Asgar Rangoonwala, President of Xian Janssen, Delivers Keynote Speech

Asgar Rangoonwala, President of Xian Janssen, stated, “In this project, Xian Janssen leveraged its medical expertise to help enhance the capabilities of healthcare professionals within Yunnan Province’s tuberculosis control system, working with all stakeholders to advance China’s tuberculosis prevention and control efforts. This initiative reaffirms Xian Janssen’s unwavering determination and commitment to addressing global public health challenges, including multidrug-resistant tuberculosis. Looking ahead, Xian Janssen will continue to support the development of China’s public health sector and make positive contributions toward achieving the goals of China’s Tuberculosis Control Plan and ultimately eliminating tuberculosis.”

[1] WHO. Global tuberculosis report 2020. p.xii.

[2] WHO. Global tuberculosis report 2020. p.23.

[3] National Health Commission of the People's Republic of China. Latest Update on the Novel Coronavirus Pneumonia Epidemic as of 24:00 on November 26.www.nhc.gov.cn/xcs/yqtb/202011/f44d8c144bf746f589d49b36328098ae.shtml.