Circular 6 March 2025: Supply Constraints with Rifampicin-based combinations for TB treatment - interim therapeutic alternatives
The Primary Healthcare, Adult Hospital-Level, and Pediatric Hospital-Level Standard Treatment Guidelines (STGs) and the Essential Medicines List (EML) currently recommend the use of rifampicin/isoniazid (RH) 150/75 mg and 300/150 mg for the continuation phase of tuberculosis (TB) treatment and TB preventive therapy. However, there is currently an insufficient national supply of RH to meet demand.
The Primary Healthcare, Adult Hospital-Level, and Pediatric Hospital-Level Standard Treatment Guidelines (STGs) and the Essential Medicines List (EML) currently recommend the use of rifampicin/isoniazid (RH) 150/75 mg and 300/150 mg for the continuation phase of tuberculosis (TB) treatment and TB preventive therapy.
However, there is currently an insufficient national supply of RH to meet demand. To ensure continuity of care during this period of supply instability, rifapentine in combination with isoniazid may be considered as an alternative for the continuation phase of treatment.
We acknowledge the limited data supporting this recommendation; however, this is a pragmatic strategy aimed at minimizing treatment interruptions caused by medicine stockouts.
For further details and guidance, we encourage healthcare professionals to review the full circular.