TB or not TB: Mobile phone scheme aims to eradicate tuberculosis

Cambridge, Massachusetts – An incentive scheme for TB patients, which rewards people for taking their medicine, has been developed by students at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The scheme was borne out of the challenge simply to get patients to take their medicine. Tuberculosis kills millions of people every year despite the fact that effective treatment exists.

The scheme, called X Out TB, makes use of an indicator stick that can test for the presence of TB medicine in urine. If it tests positive, it reveals a code that the user can redeem for free mobile phone credit. Field tests have been carried out in Nicaragua, Pakistan and Indonesia.

X Out TB could be a breakthrough in monitoring patients in developing countries, who may not have easy access to medical centres. Importantly, the plan is a clear-cut incentive-based scheme that harnesses the power of popular technology – in this case, the mobile phone. With such simple encouragement, X Out TB puts forth a strong attempt to make sure sufferers take care into their own hands.