Months after framing new guidelines and protocols for management of TB, particularly in diagnosis, the Union Health Ministry has now launched a first-of-its kind online course, “Manage TB”, with an aim to sensitise doctors to the standards of care to combat the deadly disease.
The need for e-course was felt as presently due to stigma more than half of the total TB patients prefer treatment from private doctors. However, unfortunately, most of the private practitioners treating TB patients are often unaware of the latest measures taken in the sector, said a senior officer from the Ministry.
Consisting of video lectures, case discussion scenarios and video demonstrations of laboratory procedures, the course has been developed by the ICMR-National Institute for Research in TB (NIRT) keeping in mind the busy work schedule of the practicing doctors.
“India contributes one-fourth of the global burden of TB and an estimated 4.8 lakh lives are lost every year due to this illness. Today we have powerful tools to diagnose and treat TB.
“However, the diagnosis is often delayed, treatment durations are much too long and drug resistance is an emerging threat mainly because more than half of all TB patients seek care preferentially from the private sector often at exorbitant costs,” the official noted.
Incidentally, the Revised National TB Control Programme (RNTCP) of the Government, offering quality assured diagnosis and free treatment, has few takers.
“We hope that the course at the doorstep of the doctors will benefit them in treating TB patients. We also hope it will be of special interest to doctors pursuing postgraduate courses in medicine, paediatrics and chest medicine,” said the official.