Union Health Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan launched the biggest ever anti-TB drug resistance survey on Saturday.
India has the highest multi-drug resistant TB burden with an estimated 64,000 cases emerging annually.
The survey will enable officials to evolve a strategy to combat drug-resistant TB and provide a statistically representative national estimate of the prevalence of anti-TB drug resistance among new and previously treated patients.
Dr. Vardhan expressed concern that there was a shortfall of TB drugs in the country and urged stakeholders to ensure that patients were not denied access to essential drugs.
“Shameful”“It is shameful if we allow our people to suffer from TB decades after decades. New strategies need to be designed and we need to redefine the goals,” he said.
Pitching for short-term goalposts instead of plans that stretch over decades, he said goals could not be long-drawn.
Assuring of zero tolerance to corruption and inefficiency, the Minister said he had already issued a directive for “500 per cent transparency.”
“We are in the process of radically changing the process of procurement of drugs. I have told my department to make sure all essential drugs are available to the people, especially TB drugs. We will fix accountability,” he said.
Referring to the government’s intent to eradicate TB, he said incorrect treatment or not following up the treatment was a cause for multi-drug resistant TB. He suggested a system where doctors can receive e-mail updates on steps being taken to treat the disease.
