more-in The ambitious target of the Government of India to eradicate tuberculosis (TB) by 2025, five years ahead of the target fixed by the World Health Organisation (WHO), can be achieved provided there is proper coordination and cooperation among all stakeholders. “The earlier strategy was to make the patient take drugs thrice a week but now daily regimen is being followed to ensure greater compliance. All patients will have to undergo a drug sensitivity test at the Drug Sensitivity Testing (DST) Lab. Each patient would be tested to find out which drug would suit him/her,” says Dr. G. Sambasiva Rao, Superintendent of the Government Hospital for Chest Diseases, which is the only TB hospital in AP to have a DST Lab. “Diagnostic tests and treatment would be given to patients living anywhere in India. The drugs for MDR TB cost between ?1 lakh to ?2 lakh and these would be given free to patient. Greater awareness is needed among patients on the need to continue the full course of the drugs even though the intensity of the disease could decrease after a few months,” Dr. Sambasiva Rao said. Symptoms Any cough, which persists for more than 15 days, combined with a rise in body temperature during the evenings and loss of appetite can be suspected to be TB. There could also be blood in sputum and loss of weight. These indications require immediate medical tests to rule out TB. “Once TB is confirmed, the next step would be to decide on the course of treatment. The Government of India is now supplying the new bedaquiline drug, which has considerably improved the success rate in the treatment of MDR TB. These drugs have to be taken for four to eight weeks to boost the body’s immunity. Other drugs would have to be continued for two years,” says Dr. Sambasiva Rao. The average cure rate has increased to 96 per cent in 2017, up by 3 per cent from the previous year and the death rate of TB patients has declined to 2.6 per cent from 3.3 per cent during the previous year, according to Dr. N. Vasundhara, District TB Control Officer.

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