New Delhi, The Government is committed to achieve the target of TB elimination by 2025 and not considering any revision in targets.
In 2018, as many as 5, 36,752 TB patients have been notified from private sector. There has been 40 per cent increase in TB notification from private sector as compared to 2017. At least 44,517 TB patients were given anti-TB drugs from the programme, official sources here said.
As per the state reports till January 25, 2019, 40 per cent notified TB patients, 35 per cent treatment supporters and eight per cent private practitioners have been paid incentives through DBT.
There has been a shortfall in stated targets as a massive partnership with the private sector has been initiated as joint effort for elimination of tuberculosis for the elimination of TB by 2025, five years ahead of the global schedule, they said.
Though the MoU was signed in March 2018, the project was launched in May 2018 and has picked up from October 2018.
To increase in notification from private sector, public private support agency approach has been initiated in 85 districts from May 2018 onwards, Indian Medial Association has been engaged for large scale sensitisation and advocacy with private practitioners with standardised digital material.
States have been supplied anti-TB drugs to cover TB patients notified from private sector based on demand. States have been guided to provide anti-TB drugs at private practitioner’s clinic or pharmacy.