Surviving MDR-TB and the Power of Person-Centred Care

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In this episode of the LSTM in Conversation podcast, Dr. Tom Wingfield sits down with Fatima Karmadwala, a multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) survivor and passionate advocate for person-centred care.

Fatima shares her deeply personal journey of navigating the UK healthcare system, enduring a four-month delay in diagnosis. Her story highlights a critical challenge: in low-incidence settings like the UK, TB symptoms can be difficult to recognise, sometimes leading to profound isolation and stigma when patients finally enter care. She recounts the fear and anxiety of being treated as a "walking disease" in an NHS hospital room, detailing experiences where medical professionals avoided her and left her meals on a clinical waste bin.

However, Fatima’s story is also one of incredible resilience. After transferring her care to Liverpool, she experienced the transformative impact of empathy, respect, and truly person-centred care from her medical team. Together, Dr. Wingfield and Fatima discuss why ending TB requires us to look beyond just the clinical science to address the deep social, economic, and psychological realities of the disease.

Released ahead of World TB Day on March 24, 2026, this episode is a reminder that TB cases are rising in England, and caring for those affected goes far beyond pills and tests.