Maharashtra has been going through a severe shortage of anti-TB medications. The crisis has been ongoing for the past few months. Now, the Central Tuberculosis Division (CTD) has stepped in to address this issue. The CTD has shipped close to nine lakh units for the initial treatment for drug-sensitive individuals.
The Centre has also ordered that medications be procured for a period of three months to minimise disruption to patients. The scarcity of anti-TB drugs in Maharashtra has continued despite a tender being issued. Authorities were waiting for the arrival of nearly six lakh units by April 14.
On March 18, the CTD wrote letters to every state TB officer. CTD, which is a part of the Union ministry of health and family welfare, had said that there could be a three-month delay in the delivery because of "unforeseen circumstances."
It asked the states to start local medication procurement for adult drug-sensitive cases. It requested that the states get DSTB-IP (A) and DSTB-CP (A) medicines locally. However, many states and local government entities were unable to get medications locally.
This medicine will include three fixed-dose combinations (FDC) and four FDC medications. Due to insufficient supplies, TB facilities are only able to provide a week's medication to patients.
It was also said that any commercial formulation that is in line with National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP) guidelines is acceptable. But there are expectations that the situation could become like that in October, when authorities struggle to get medicines.
On January 30, all gram panchayats in the state were instructed to set aside money in their budgets for the PM TB Mukt Panchayat campaign. This is part of a plan to eradicate tuberculosis by 2025.
Maharashtra alone is home to more than 2.5 lakh TB patients. About one lakh of these individuals seek care from private physicians. The rest go to the state and locally run medical facilities.
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