Trust between a doctor and a patient is the main step to victory over tuberculosis

Aman Abdygulovich Abdygulov, who is now 70 years old, works as a phthisiologist in the city of Kara-Kul in the Jalal-Abad region. Although he is not a phthisiologist by profession, but an epidemiologist, he has excellent results: thanks to the time and care he gives to each of his patients, he can support them during treatment and help them recover. Dr. Abdygulov is a very committed and exemplary doctor with a vocation to save people's lives. All patients starting TB treatment, with rare exceptions, are successfully cured under the strict guidance of this doctor. From the 2018 cohort among RU/MDR, he has 100% success rate of treatment.

How does working with tuberculosis patients differ from working with other patients and diseases?

The main feature of working as a phthisiologist is to gain the trust of patients and explain to them that there is no need to be afraid of tuberculosis, that it is curable. Everyone needs to be psychologically prepared. Some patients drink medications for up to 2 years. It's very difficult actually. Every time we need to convince them to take medications and tell us about the side effects, if there are any. The one who believes is cured.

The most important thing is that patients have confidence in us, in doctors. To avoid stigma and discrimination. Also, I warn my employees to treat patients very carefully. And we help patients as much as we can, with travel expenses, or through the mayor's office, for example, we were able to rent an apartment for patients so that they lived near the hospital and in good conditions during treatment.

Unfortunately, there are very few young doctors in phthisiology. Mostly pensioners work.

What is your relationship with your patients?

Patients listen to me. And everything I say, they do, they do not resist. But it's still hard to take treatment for two years. Some do not come, or disappear. We look for them as best we can, then convince, persuade and, in the end, almost all are successfully cured.

The relationship between patients and the doctor should be only friendly. Our town is small, and I know everyone: patients and their parents. We're almost like relatives. Doctors and nurses should help patients. Many people are left alone with their illness, and they have a hard time.

The patients themselves are very friendly. Our relations are built on the basis of trust. I have three different phone numbers, three different operators. This is specifically to make it convenient for patients to call me. You need to constantly talk to them and convince them that it's not scary, that the disease is curable.

What advice would you give to your colleagues and patients?

The most important thing to help patients is to gain trust. To make them survive. And patients need them to drink medicines at the same time. If he drinks at eight, then you always need to drink at eight. It makes a big difference. I also want to tell doctors and nurses not to be afraid of patients, because after a short time, they are no longer contagious. We need to eliminate stigma and discrimination and support patients together.