The Ministry of Public Health will now have access to new low cost treatment for tuberculosis victims at US$17 per day, down from US$155. Dr. Socorro Gross, representative of the Pan-American Health Organization said that there are 8,363 registered tuberculosis cases in the DR. TB is a lethal but curable disease. From now on, the Dominican state will be able to purchase these pharmaceuticals for US$17 for distribution to the victims of the disease, usually indigent persons, according to Hoy newspaper. The treatment is distributed free to the patients, with the state picking up the cost. The DR is a member of the WHO, but owes the organization more than US$2 million.