Activist write to pm highlighting shortage of vital anti-TB drug

Activist write to pm highlighting shortage of vital anti-TB drug

Subject: Science and tech

Section: Health

About the news:Activist, Public health experts and survivors wrote a letter PM ahead of World tuberculosis day (24th March) request urgent intervention to address the shortage of Anti-TB Drug

• Letter also highlight shortage of drug essential for treating drug sensitive (DS-TB)
• Till february shortage of 1st line Drug Isoniazid, Rifampicin, Pyrazinamide, Ethambutol drugs

Why Shortage of Drug: Unavailability due to lack of demand in the open market

How Shortage will Impact India:

1. Highest burden of TB in the world and shortage of critically required drug affects to treat patient
2. According to Nationally TB Elimination Program (NTEP) uninterrupted supply of quality drug is essential for Directly observed Therapy Short Course (DOTS)
3. Inadequate access to quality TB Drug may cause emergence of Drug Resistance variety of TB strain which is very difficult and costly to treat
4. This Shortage Poses a significant risk to the survivor of Multidrug Resistant TB
5. Affects treatment outcomes like India pledge to eliminate TB by 2025

TB Burden of India as per global TB report 2023:

1. Highest burden of TB in the world 2.8 million that is 27% of TB burden
2. Case fatality ratio 12% (out of 100 TB cases 12 case resulted into death)
3. India having 1.1 lakh of Multidrug TB (MDR-TB)

Step Taken by India to tackle TB problem:

1. PM TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan: To bring together all community stakeholder to support those on TB treatment and accelerate the country progress towards TB elimination
2. New Drug like Bedaquiline and Delamanid made available for treatment of Drug resistant TB
3. National TB Control Program: Anti-TB Drug are procured and supplied to various states and then distributes to various states
4. Nikshay Poshan: Direct benefit transfer of Rs 500 to TB patient/month for nutrition
5. Universal drug susceptibility test to ensure every diagnosed TB patient is tested to ruled out drug resistance

Different Type of TB

1. Multidrug Resistance TB (MDR-TB) : TB which is resistance to 1st line anti-TB drug, it is developed when course of antibiotics is interrupted and can be treated with second line antibiotics Drug
2. Extensive Drug Resistance TB (XDR-TB):Caused by strain that is resistance to both firstline and second line antibiotics
3. Totally Drug Resistant TB (TDR-TB):It is a form of Tuberculosis which is resistant to all currently used drug