As many as 10,000 persons were diagnosed with tuberculosis (TB) by private practitioners in the last one year in Tamil Nadu. The largest concentration of such persons was in northern and central regions of the State.
Though private practitioners must notify a case once diagnosed, often they are hindered by the tedious process. The private sector treats around 20 to 25 per cent of the population. A fifth of the patients diagnosed go ‘missing’ as they are not accounted for.
“Across the country, over one lakh cases have been identified this year. We hope that in another five years all the missing cases would be accounted for,” says M. Balasubramaniam, national working group member of the Indian Medical Association.
The largest number of patients identified in Tamil Nadu was in the Coimbatore-Nagapattinam belt and the northern regions. “Though in the southern districts too more people seek treatment in primary hospitals, it all depends on the consultant’s enthusiasm,” he adds.
The association is trying to get around the mindset of pulmonologists. Although the government has laid down the thrice-weekly Directly Observed Treatment Short-Course (DOTS) treatment, which the village health nurse can monitor, private practitioners prefer the daily regime.
“Once the patient is diagnosed through sputum examination, we notify the district TB officer and free medicines are given to the peripheral institute, from where the patient can pick them up free. Many pulmonologists, however, give the patient the option of the daily regime and patients choose to buy the medicines from private sector despite the higher cost,” he adds.
Last year, the association suggested the Kerala model under which State TB officer buys medicines in bulk and provides them to the peripheral institution.
Largest concentration of cases in northern and central regions
