CITU Writes to Health Minister on Unavailability of TB Drugs
or reload the browser
IN a letter addressed to the Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, on April 27, Tapan Sen, CITU general secretary, highlighted a concerning issue regarding the availability of TB drugs in medical and treatment centers across various states. He emphasized receiving alarming reports from workers and their families, particularly in the vast unorganised sector, regarding the unavailability of TB medications. This situation, Sen pointed out, exposes individuals to exploitation by private pharmaceutical businesses, including those operated by multinational corporations, which charge exorbitant prices for these essential drugs.
The growing shortage, or complete absence, of government-supplied TB medications has resulted in many affected workers discontinuing their treatment, thereby increasing the risk of further infection spread within society. Sen underscored that irregular intake or discontinuation of medication can lead to the development of drug-resistant strains of TB, posing a grave public health threat. Despite these pressing concerns, the government has yet to acknowledge the severity of the problem or take appropriate corrective measures.
Tapan Sen expressed disappointment that the government has not actively pursued the UNAIDS/WHO-sponsored TB eradication programme, to which India is a signatory with corresponding obligations. He highlighted that this situation reflects serious shortcomings on the part of the government in fulfilling its responsibilities to address the TB epidemic effectively.
In 2023, India recorded 25.55 lakh new tuberculosis cases, as indicated in the latest India TB report for 2024, which includes 1.43 lakh pediatric cases in addition to existing ones. This substantial number should not be overlooked or deemed insignificant. Newly diagnosed and recovering TB patients require a four-drug regimen for the initial two months, followed by a three-drug regimen. Any interruption in the intake of these medications can result in the development of drug-resistant (MDR) TB and increase the risk of further disease transmission within the community.
To prevent such consequences, the Directly Observed Treatment, Short-Course (DOTS) process has been implemented by the government. Sen pointed out that the officers of the TB eradication programmes in states like Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Rajasthan had already reached out to the health minister urging intervention to ensure the availability of anti-TB drugs. Similar concerns have been raised in West Bengal as well. It is crucial to recognise that a shortage of anti-TB drugs, particularly for treating drug-resistant TB (MDR), can lead to fatal outcomes. The lack of access to these medications not only jeopardises the health of active TB patients but also poses a significant risk to the broader community, considering the airborne nature of the disease.
TB medications are typically procured by the central government based on pre-emptive demands submitted by each state. The responsibility of the state lies in distributing these medicines to government-run centers. However, states generally do not engage in procurement themselves, nor do they have allocated funds or established tendering processes for purchasing TB medications at the state level.
In light of the current crisis, some states have attempted to procure anti-TB medicines using special budgets. However, these efforts have been hindered by restrictions imposed due to electoral codes of conduct. For example, Maharashtra currently has stocks that will last approximately 13.5 days, while Chhattisgarh possesses only 15,000 strips of 3-FDC, which will suffice for one month. Notably, Chhattisgarh had submitted its requirements for TB medicines to the centre in mid-2023. Similar challenges are being encountered in other states as well.
Despite receiving urgent appeals from various states, the union government has yet to demonstrate visible initiative in procuring these drugs on an urgent basis. Therefore, Tapan Sen, urged the health ministry, and the government as a whole, to take immediate action to procure the necessary medications according to the standard regimen. It is imperative to distribute anti-TB drugs promptly, recognising the critical urgency of the situation. He hoped for a prompt response from the government and decisive action in this matter.
or reload the browser
or reload the browser
