New Delhi, Sep 6 (IANS) The Union Health Ministry on Friday approved a more effective and short-term treatment to achieve its target of eliminating tuberculosis (MDR-TB) from the country by next year.
Around 75000 MDR-TB patients across the country will be eligible to avail the benefits of this short-term treatment. This new treatment will also be cost-effective for these patients suffering from TB disease.
The Union Health Ministry has approved the ‘BPLM’ scheme as part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision to end TB by 2025, five years ahead of the global target of eliminating the disease under the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
A nationwide plan for BPALM management was prepared by the TB Division, Union Ministry of Health in consultation with the States and Union Territories.
It has developed a new anti-TB drug ‘Pretomanid’ in combination with bedaquiline and linezolid (with/without moxifloxacin). Pretomanid has been first licensed for use in India by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO).
According to the Government of India, the combination of bedaquiline, pretomanid, linezolid and moxifloxacin has proven to be a safer, more effective and quicker alternative to the previous MDR-TB treatment regimen.
Let us tell you, while traditional MDR-TB medicines last for 20 months and also have side effects, the ‘BPLM’ medicine can cure this type of TB in just six months with a high treatment success rate.
According to the Health Ministry, this decision has been implemented after a thorough review of evidence by experts on the effectiveness of the drug.
The Department of Health and Family Welfare also conducted a health technology assessment through the Department of Health Research to ensure that this MDR-TB treatment option is safe and cost-effective.
The National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (NTEP) aims to strategically reduce the TB burden in India by 2025.
–IANS
PSM/CBT
