Just come across this report from MSF: https://www.msf.org/report-shows-new-tests-and-drugs-tb-remain-out-reach
Yet another example of shocking #accesstomedicines.
Bedaquiline is a relatively new and effective treatment for multi drug resistant TB. Surely, that should be reason enough for it's equitable distribution?
But also consider: it can be given orally, whereas the older alternatives are injections with a worse side-effect profile. This means that a patient on bedaquiline can be managed closer to home (not a trivial thing if you live far from secondary healthcare, lack transport, or live in an insecure environment). They will also benefit from taking a better tolerated medicine, and will avoid painful injections. This means that they'll be more likely to adhere to the treatment and will have a greater chance of success - which surely must help to reduce antimicrobial resistance, as well as being best for the patient.
And all these things are even more important during a pandemic.