Government to develop mechanism to provide free drug to TB patients

By Vikas Vaidya


With an aim to eradicate Tuberculosis (TB) completely, Government of India has made up its mind to take certain measures aggressively. One of the steps will be distributing drugs free of cost. A mechanism is being developed so that the TB patients will get drug free of cost not only in Government hospitals, but in private hospitals and at medical stores also.
Dr Sunil Khaparde, Deputy Director General Head, Central TB Division while talking to ‘The Hitavada’ at Nagpur said, “A system is being thought over wherein Drug Public Private Support Unit (DPPSU) will be brought and chemists will have to coordinate with this unit. The talks are on with States about taking up DPPSU scheme.”
To provide free drugs, the account is to be properly maintained. How much stock the chemists should have? How drugs are to be distributed? Whether it will have zonal distribution system or any patient can procure drugs from any private hospital or any medical store? These issues are at the state of discussions.
Dr Khaparde who is also the Project Director of Revised National TB Control Program (RNTCP) of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said, “As per Schedule H1, pharmacies are required to dispense anti TB drugs on prescription of a registered medical practitioner and maintain a separate register containing the name and address of the prescriber, the name of the patient, the name of the drug and the quantity supplied and such records shall be maintained for three years and be open for inspection.”
The aim of RNTCP is to establish linkages with the private sector and extend free drugs, diagnostics and treatment support services to TB patients seeking care from the private sector. A big share of these public private linkages for TB can be made at the level of chemists and pharmacists from where patients purchase anti-TB medicines, prescribed by private practitioners.
Since India’s major healthcare is shared by private sector, Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare is trying to increase private participation. The one negative part about private hospitals is, its adherence system is poor. The Ministry is working on that aspect too.
Speaking at length about the programmes being launched by Government for complete removal of TB, Dr Khaparde said, “Nuitrition plays an important role in curing TB. Malnourished can become easy victim of TB. They have less immunity as they don’t eat. Hence, financial incentives for nutrition support of Rs. 500 per month per patient is provisioned for all TB patients until their treatment completion. This also includes Drug Resistant TB patients and TB patients notified from the private sector in NIKSHAY RNTCP.”
The Ministry will adopt an Aadhaar based DBT mechanism for ensuring transfer of financial incentive in a transparent manner. Dr Khaparde is taking efforts to spread awareness about the arrangements made by Government regarding treating TB by conducting camps in rural areas. He has been organising camps in villages near Nagpur since long. The villages like Mandhal, Kuhi, Yerla, Kalmeshwar, Katol, Hingna and in others states of the country witnessed these camps.


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