Only Better Healthcare can Cure Tuberculosis
(The Economic Times: 20.10.2016)
http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31816&articlexml=Only-Better-
Healthcare-can-Cure-Tuberculosis-20102016020018
The World Health Organisation's (WHO) Global Tuberculosis Report says India has 2.8
million people afflicted by the disease, 27% of the global total for 2015. Of these,
79,000 had multidrug resistant TB, 13.6% of the global total. The stock-out of TB
drugs caused by pusillanimous officials' failure earlier this decade to renew a vital
contract to supply the drug would have contributed to the rise of the potent
multi-drug resistant variant of the disease.
79,000 had multidrug resistant TB, 13.6% of the global total. The stock-out of TB
drugs caused by pusillanimous officials' failure earlier this decade to renew a vital
contract to supply the drug would have contributed to the rise of the potent
multi-drug resistant variant of the disease.
These figures reflect a dysfunctional healthcare system, besides low levels of income,
nutrition and awareness. The private sector's often callous attitude to treatment of TB
goes unchecked by regulation. The government's Revised Tuberculosis Control
Programme provides for free-of-cost TB medicines through the public healthcare
system, but given that public healthcare is either non-functional or overburdened,
even the poor, at least a third, choose private care. The official figures do not account
for those accessing the informal sector -studies estimate that nearly 50% of TB cases
are outside any organised healthcare system. Poor diagnostics hamper treatment. The
treatment plan offered outside the public system is often not in line with the
WHO-prescribed Directly Observed Treatment Short (DOTS) and DOTS plus courses.
Instead, high-dosage antibiotics are prescribed,masking TB symptoms and building
drug resistance. Nearly 57% of TB cases in rural India are linked to malnutrition.
goes unchecked by regulation. The government's Revised Tuberculosis Control
Programme provides for free-of-cost TB medicines through the public healthcare
system, but given that public healthcare is either non-functional or overburdened,
even the poor, at least a third, choose private care. The official figures do not account
for those accessing the informal sector -studies estimate that nearly 50% of TB cases
are outside any organised healthcare system. Poor diagnostics hamper treatment. The
treatment plan offered outside the public system is often not in line with the
WHO-prescribed Directly Observed Treatment Short (DOTS) and DOTS plus courses.
Instead, high-dosage antibiotics are prescribed,masking TB symptoms and building
drug resistance. Nearly 57% of TB cases in rural India are linked to malnutrition.
Funding for TB has gone up. But we also need better surveillance in the private
sector, improved reporting, diagnosis and treatment. Counselling and support of patients
to ensure that they complete their course of treatment are imperative. A functional
public healthcare system is the first step.
sector, improved reporting, diagnosis and treatment. Counselling and support of patients
to ensure that they complete their course of treatment are imperative. A functional
public healthcare system is the first step.
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