There are as many as 53,286 missing TB (tuberculosis) patients in Odisha out of a total 98,670 estimated TB cases last year, said the findings of the Citizens Report Card released by the Voice of Patients, an NGO, here on Monday on the occasion of the World TB Day.
The NGO said that only 45,384 TB patients were registered for treatment last year out of the total estimated cases. The remaining patients are yet to be detected, it added. The report card also revealed that there are a total 3,749 drug-resistant TB patients in the State while 3,340 multidrug-resistant TB patients were missing from treatment.
Though the Government has sanctioned enough funds for treatment of the patients, the NGO said, around 55 per cent of patients don’t get treatment which is very unfortunate. The NGO questioned about thousands of missing TB cases and continuous reduction of detection rate in the State.
The organisation recommended that the Government increase the number of microscopic centres and numbers of senior treatment supervisors (STSs) to counter the staff crunch and lack of microscopic centres in the State. It also suggested that the Government conduct a regular review by the Health Secretary to improve the quality and process of the treatment.
The Voice of Patient said it would try to sensitise the Government and its functionaries to think of the reality to control and prevent the largest killer disease which can be avoided.