District TB officials are tasked with direct purchases of medications due to a severe shortage of treatment options for multi-drug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) patients. This is a big challenge, as their budget is limited to INR 5,000 per purchase. It only allows for nine strips of Cycloserine medicine, far short of the daily demand from about 500 patients.
Because of this, district TB officers must decide which patients may receive the medication based on their health condition. Hence, only 5 to 10 percent of patients can be served at their level.
Despite India's ambitious goal to eradicate TB by 2025, patients with MDR-TB in Maharashtra have been without access to three essential medications—clofazimine, linezolid, and cyclosporine—for about a month now. According to the state health department, the shortage stems from the centre.
While district TB departments are encouraged to purchase directly from manufacturers, they cannot order in bulk. This restriction not only threatens patient resistance but also increases the likelihood of TB mortality.
Each year, 5,000 drug-resistant TB cases are reported in Mumbai, and it loses about 3,000 TB patients. Patients with MDR-TB who fail to take their prescribed medications run the risk of catastrophic consequences. This includes deteriorating symptoms and drug-resistant strains. It can result in a higher chance of dying from TB-related complications.
Untreated or improperly managed MDR-TB can lead to more dangerous strains like extensively drug-resistant TB (XDR-TB). These are difficult to treat and have higher fatality rates. Death from TB-related complications is more likely when medication is absent or taken irregularly.
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