Significantly shorter treatment for drug-resistant TB likely soon

Mumbai: There’s some cheer in store for drug-resistant tuberculosis patients, who have been abiding a prolonged treatment regimen with severe side-effects. HT Image The present treatment guideline, which has 13 to 14 drugs given daily for a period of 18 to 24 months, was formulated two and a half years ago. The core committee of the National TB Elimination Programme submitted the new treatment guideline regimen 20 days ago to the ministry of health and family welfare and the Drugs Controller General of India for approval and implementation. While WHO recommended its use last year, our technical experts felt that India should generate its own data and make a decision based on the results here.” The BMC-run Shatabdi Hospital in Govandi is one of the 13 clinical trial sites in five states in the country to conduct the BPaL regimen for pre-Extensively-Drug-Resistant patients. Adherence to the treatment with this drug toxicity becomes a huge problem for many patients, as it is a prolonged treatment course.” Dr Pinto added that if the government rolled out a shorter regime, it would be a huge relief, as the shorter regime comprised all oral drugs.