Each year 8000 Ukrainian citizens die of TB

Nowadays about 60 million of TB cases is counted in the world; according to the official data 640 thousand of them are Ukrainian citizens. During last eight years the number of TB cases in Ukraine has grown by 72.5%. In other words, the number of the sick for 100 000 population has grown from 32 to 55. To compare, the corresponding number in Western Europe is 5 TB cases for 100 000. The mortality rate for TB cases in Ukraine has grown by 92.6%. So, in 1990 the number of those who died from TB was 4212, in 1998 — this number was 7850. This social disease reaps more victims than all other infectious and parasitic diseases rolled together. Paradoxically, during the same years Ukraine lost 20 TB dispensaries out of 185. About 16 thousand (44.2%) of stationery beds have been reduced, as well as 38 (27.9%) out of 136 sanatoriums. The total number of physicians specializing in TB who have been fired reached 1005. The number of those who remained is 2729.

The structure of the sick population is as follows: 40-50% are the poorest, 0.5-1.7% — beggars and tramps, 10-20% — former convicts, 20-50% — alcoholics and drug addicts, 5 – 20% — people without normal living accommodation.

‘Den’, No. 214, 19 November 1999