Single pill formula to tackle TB in Tamil Nadu

Improper medication and lack of follow up treatment are some of the main reasons why the number of cases of Tuberculosis is high in India. It has been found to be a cause of great concern among health officials in the states and the Union Ministry. 

According to the government’s new drug regimen, patients suffering from tuberculosis will now be given single pill daily. A Tuberculosis researcher from the National Institute for Tuberculosis Research said, “TB patients can now depend on the single pill formula. Health concern in the country is growing and such moves by the government can contribute towards the elimination of this killer disease.”

“We have been fighting the disease for years and are nowhere close to eliminating it. However, we are hoping to achieve the country’s goal of eliminating it by 2025, for which states are taking various initiatives. As part of the Union Ministry’s plans to achieve the goal, Chennai, like a few other cities, have begun their programme to free the city of TB. Chennai, with the help from the Centre, began its programme last month under the Chennai Corporation,” said TB expert Dr Murugan. 

Following a meeting of state health secretaries, it was decided that patients suffering from tuberculosis will now be given fixed drug combinations in a single pill daily and children suffering from TB need not be administered the old tablets anymore. 

Jagdish Prasad, Director General of Health Services said, “In 2016, there was an estimated 10.4 million new TB cases worldwide, 10 per cent of which were people living with HIV. Seven countries accounted for 64 per cent of the total burden, with India bearing the brunt,” he said quoting a WHO report.

Expressing hope in the new drug policy bringing about a change in the health scenario in the country, Dr Kumar S, a Pulmonologist, said, “The earlier regimen saw patients missing the dosage or discontinuing medication - due to which the medication continued for longer period. We are now starting the drug intake regimen daily in India,” he said.