January 21, 2002

'31'

    The Government has approved further expansion of the Revised National TB Control Programme (RNTCP) to cover 700 million people by March 2004. This will enable extension of the programme to previously uncovered or less covered areas in the North East, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and the three new States of Uttaranchal, Jharkhand and Chhatisgarh. In addition, the programme, being undertaken in Andhra Pradesh and Orissa with DFID (Department for International Development, U.K.) and DANIDA assistance, is expected to cover an additional 10 million population by 2004.

    The Ministry of Health has started RNTCP in 1997 incorporating the WHO recommended strategy of DOTS (Directly Observed Treatment, Short- course) with World Bank Assistance. The aim of the project was to cover 271 million people in 102 districts of the country. By the end of 1998, the coverage had been about 20 million people, whereas it is around 450 million at present. The entire country will be covered through DOTS strategy by 2005.

    The expansion of the DOTS strategy in India is the fastest expansion ever in the history of TB control and has been applauded by WHO and World Bank for achieving very good results. Under the programme, eight out of ten patients have been successfully treated, compared to less than four in the previous programme. Under this programme, more than eight lakh patients have already been put on treatment and more than 1.5 lakh deaths have been prevented.

    All the State Governments have now been asked to strengthen the State TB societies and take all necessary action to implement the programme quickly, funds for which are being given by the Central Government. The cost of the total project is Rs.709 crore.

    TB is one of the critical public health problems facing the country. It is estimated that one person dies in India due to TB every minute. It also causes unacceptable levels of morbidity. TB disproportionately affects the poor. Therefore, Government has given TB control the highest priority.