Haryana Government has launched daily regimen for tuberculosis (TB) patients under the Revised National Tuberculosis Control Program (RNTCP) to achieve the goal of TB elimination by 2025.
The State has moved ahead to shift to daily anti-TB treatment regimen from the current intermittent regimen for treatment of the disease.
After launching the daily treatment regimen for TB patients at a state level meeting in Panchkula on Saturday, Principal Secretary, Health Department, Amit Jha, said TB patients would now be receiving daily drugs from the national programme under supervision of the treatment supporter network throughout the state.
TB patients availing themselves of health services in the private sector would also be provided free diagnostics and drugs from RNTCP to reduce out-of-pocket expenditure by TB patients and better control of the disease.
The aim is to deliver early diagnosis and treatment for ‘TB-free Haryana’ by providing quality diagnosis and treatment services to all TB patients. TB control efforts by officials of the Health Department would be intensified at every level.
Patient-centric approach recommended by the World Health Organisation and Government of India would be followed for improving overall TB control situation in the state, Jha added.
Stock of daily regimen drugs has already been supplied to all districts. All health facilities would have provision of treating TB patients using daily drugs. TB patients would also be monitored by the program on monthly basis until completion for successful outcome in line with TB elimination goal by 2025.
Others present on the occasion included Mission Director, National Health Mission, Amneet P. Kumar, Director General Health Services, Dr. Satish Aggarwal, Director, Health Services (TB) Dr. Veena Singh, State TB officer Haryana, Dr Rakesh Sehl, WHO consultant, Dr Sandeep Rathod, and district TB officers of all districts and state TB cell, Haryana.