India, March 21 -- WHO has issuednew guidanceto improve treatment of multidrug resistant TB (MDR-TB). WHO is recommending shifting to fully oral regimens to treat people with MDR-TB.

This new treatment course is more effective and is less likely to provoke adverse side effects. WHO recommends backing up treatment with active monitoring of drug safety and providing counselling support to help patients complete their course of treatment.

The recommendations are part of a larger package of actions designed to help countries increase the pace of progress to end tuberculosis (TB) and released in advance of World TB Day.

Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General said, "The theme of this year's World TB Day is: It's time to end TB. ...