YEREVAN, MARCH 23, NOYAN TAPAN. Since 2006, a study to determine the number of drug-resistant tubercular patients has been conducted in Armenia with the assistance of German KfW Bank and Copa-Epos organization. Tatev Kostanian, Deputy Head of the National Program on Fight against Tuberculosis, told NT correspondent that the results of the study will be summarized in late March. She said that by preliminary data, 8.5% of 1,613 primary patients and 35% of 557 secondary patients registered last year are drug-resistant. According to her, starting from 2008, a program on free treatment of such patients will be implemented. It is envisaged to apply to the "Green Light Corridor" international organization for purchasing the necessary medicines at much lower prices. T. Kostanian said that medicines for treatment of drug-resistant tuberculosis are quite expensive: 10-12 thousand dollars is spent on treatment of a patient. In her words, prior to that, it is planned to open a unit for treatment of drug-resistant tubercular patients at one of Yerevan's medical institutions.

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