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The Print
07-07-2025
- Health
- The Print
Puducherry's medical colleges lead way in TB elimination
'These institutions are working with the State TB Cell to identify vulnerable populations and map them as moderate or high risk. The mapped individuals are tested using highly sensitive tests – AI-enabled handheld chest X-rays and NAAT – molecular diagnostics,' Dr Venkatesh said. All ten medical colleges — three government medical colleges and seven private ones — have constituted Medical College Core Committee to implement and monitor TB elimination activities at their level, which include provision of diagnostic and treatment services, drug sensitivity testing, provision of TB preventive services, active case-finding survey and verification of claims for sub-national certification of TB elimination, Puducherry's TB Officer Dr C Venkatesh said. New Delhi, July 7 (PTI) Puducherry's ten medical colleges are emerging as the driving force behind the Union Territory's TB elimination fight, contributing to more than 50 per cent of TB notifications and participating in active case-finding efforts. People with co-morbidities and other vulnerabilities, which predispose them to the disease, are identified in the database and are followed up with in the future case-finding drives as well, he said. In 2023 and 2024, Puducherry was recognised as the best performing Union Territory across the South Zone in terms of diagnosing TB notification at medical college level. Puducherry has 10 medical colleges for a population of 14,00,000 with an annual intake of more than 1500 medical students. Medical colleges do not have a limited geographical area to cater to and being tertiary referral units, provide services to patients within the districts and from outside the district and state too, Dr S Govindarajan, Mission Director of National Health Mission (NHM), Puducherry, told PTI. The State TB Office has been actively engaged with the medical colleges to ensure effective implementation of the medical college Task Force mechanism, he said. 'Medical colleges in Puducherry contribute to over 50 per cent of the all diagnosed TB cases in the UT mostly offering NAAT technology for diagnosis. They contribute to the majority of the extra-pulmonary TB cases diagnosed. They have implemented the differentiated TB care model by providing inpatient care to those who need it,' Dr Venkatesh said. In association with the department of community medicine in all the medical colleges, Puducherry had conducted an active case-finding survey for tuberculosis, wherein about 5.2 lakh individuals were screened at their door steps, around 42096 chest X-rays were taken and a 1432 sputum samples were collected, of which 25 individuals were identified to be suffering from tuberculosis. Standardised paperless data capturing, public-private collaboration, AI-based screening by handheld X-ray device, deployment of upfront nucleic acid amplification testing (NAAT) for sputum, line list of vulnerable individuals available for periodic follow up and targeted interventions in reducing their risk, were novel practices that helped in successful implementation of this activity, said Dr Govindarajan. As per the competency-based medical education curriculum for undergraduate students, the National Medical Council (NMC) had mandated all medical colleges to follow Family Adoption Programme (FAP), wherein a medical student adopts three to five families, once he joins the course and periodically follows them up till the completion of the course for holistic care. 'Medical colleges of Puducherry had utilised this opportunity to tap these medical students as a resource to screen the adopted family members for tuberculosis. The state supports this initiative by provision of sputum transport and diagnostic services. This first-of-the-kind model had been well received in scientific forums for its scalable nature and utilising of medical students as a manpower for screening for tuberculosis, given the backdrop of areas where there is scarcity of resources,' Dr Govindarajan said. Puducherry has been the first runner to complete both State-level NTEP Operational Research workshop as well as the State-level Training every year for Medical Colleges Task Force Mechanism to accelerate ending TB. Following these, medical colleges in the Union Territory have been conducting periodic cascade training for various cadres of health care workers such as faculties, junior residents, interns and staff nurses. Puducherry State Task Force had also released a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for submission of operational research proposals to NTEP in the operational research workshop. Medical colleges of Puducherry had also supported the 100 days' TB campaign of central TB division by conducting awareness sessions in the form of street plays, flash mob dance, face painting, health talks in the community as well as health facility. NMC also advises for elective postings for medical students, wherein students opt for elective modules of their choice in their desired subject. Students who had opted for tuberculosis elimination activities supported the campaign by devising unique models for sensitising the community on respiratory hygiene and flipcharts regarding importance of nutrition in tuberculosis, Dr Govindarajan said. The IGMCRI, the government medical college, in association with the State TB office and NTEP State Task Force, had conducted 'Run for a cause' – a five-km marathon for doctors, medical paramedical students, 'TB Tales' – a reels competition for college students, and 'Brush Away TB' – a mega painting competition for school students. The support of medical colleges in elimination of tuberculosis in Puducherry has been well appreciated in various forums for which the Puducherry State Task Force had twice consecutively been awarded as the best performing State Task Force at the Zonal level review meeting by the central TB division, Dr Govindrajan said. PTI PLB MNK MNK This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. 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Hindustan Times
06-07-2025
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Puducherry cracks down on chemists flouting rules on sale of tuberculosis medicines
New Delhi, The Puducherry administration has launched raids against private drug retailers flouting the ban on sale of anti-tuberculosis drugs in contravention of norms. Puducherry cracks down on chemists flouting rules on sale of tuberculosis medicines The joint enforcement raids are being conducted by the State TB Cell in collaboration with the Department of Drugs Control. The Puducherry administration in alignment with the National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme implemented the ban on the sale of anti-TB drugs by private chemists, Dr S Govindarajan, Mission Director of National Health Mission , Puducherry, told PTI. The move, initiated in 2017, followed directives from the Central TB Division, Union Health Ministry advising that anti-TB drugs should only be dispensed through government sources to ensure strict treatment adherence and minimise the risk of drug-resistant TB, he said. "Despite the initial ban, instances of non-compliance by a few chemists prompted the State TB Cell, in coordination with the Department of Drugs Control, to launch targeted joint enforcement raids," he said. These inspections aimed both at preventing unauthorised sales and to sensitise chemists regarding the public health implications of selling anti-TB drugs without notifying the State TB Officer , Dr C Venkatesh, STO, said. As part of ongoing efforts, multiple awareness meetings were held with wholesalers, retailers, and pharmacists across Puducherry, Dr Govindrajan informed. "They were instructed to stop dispensing anti-TB drugs to patients and instead report such cases using a standardised notification form," he said. These reports enabled the STO office to track patients and ensure treatment completion, Dr Govindarajan stated. "The druggists were again and again educated in a series of meeting that the selling of anti-TB drugs outside to TB patients lent to non-completion of full course of drug intake by the patient and the patient might become defaulter or the patient turned into Multi-Drug-Resistant TB case which was dreadful than the profit the druggist made from the sale," he said. Over time, these measures have yielded notable success, Dr Venkatesh said. "The sale of anti-TB drugs through private channels has significantly declined," he said. Most chemists have voluntarily withdrawn from stocking TB medications due to low demand. Additionally, private practitioners in the UT were sensitised and are now actively reporting TB cases to the STO, thus bringing more patients under the government-supported treatment regimen, Dr Venkatesh said. The State TB Cell has established three dedicated teams to conduct evening visits to private clinics for one-on-one discussions with practitioners, emphasising the importance of notifying TB cases and supporting treatment completion. "So far, eight joint raids have been conducted in the last two months, and prosecution was initiated against a chemist found violating the directives," Dr Venkatesh said. These sustained efforts have ensured that all TB patients in Puducherry are now notified under the programme and are receiving free anti-TB drugs from government sources, with continuous monitoring to ensure full treatment adherence. The initiative underscores the administration's commitment to preventing the emergence of Multi-Drug-Resistant TB , a serious threat linked to poor treatment compliance and unregulated drug availability, Dr Venkatesh added. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
New Indian Express
25-04-2025
- Health
- New Indian Express
Nearly 82 lakh people in Kerala at high risk of tuberculosis, says health department
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The state health department has mapped 81.6 lakh individuals at high risk of tuberculosis (TB) as it plans pro-active measures for early detection and treatment, as part of its aim to eliminate the disease. These individuals were surveyed from 18 vulnerable groups, including people with uncontrolled diabetes, kidney ailments, past or familial history of TB, and those living in overcrowded, socio-economically disadvantaged areas, such as tribal and coastal regions. Despite a decline in overall TB cases, the disease remains a leading cause of death in the state. According to the Global Tuberculosis Report 2024, Kerala records six TB-related deaths every day — adding up to 2,123 fatalities annually. The state has intensified efforts for early detection of the disease. In 2023, over 21,500 new cases were identified by screening 5.44 lakh people. A recent 100-day campaign by the State TB Cell screened 53 lakh people and detected 5,588 cases. Health experts stress that detecting TB before symptoms appear is crucial to cutting transmission and reducing the disease burden. 'A patient with pulmonary TB becomes infectious once symptoms appear, particularly coughing. Unfortunately, many self-medicate or ignore symptoms, which facilitates spread. Men are more susceptible, but less likely to attend screening camps, partly due to the stigma surrounding the disease,' said Dr Aparna Mohan, WHO consultant. She warns that one symptomatic TB patient can infect up to 15 others a year. AI X-ray units In a decisive step aimed at eliminating the disease, the State TB Cell is set to deploy artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled hand-held X-ray units to screen vulnerable groups. These portable, battery-operated devices provide high-resolution imaging with low-dose radiation (6mA) and can be easily set up at local health centres, halls, or community settings — removing logistical barriers for hard-to-reach groups. 'The Central TB Division will provide two hand-held X-ray units to each district, and additional devices are being procured using CSR funds,' said state TB officer Dr K K Rajaram. Annual chest X-rays will be offered free of cost, especially targeting coastal communities whose work patterns often prevent them from attending regular camps. 'With portable X-ray machines, we can reach them on their own terms,' Dr Aparna added. If the AI analysis flags an abnormality, patients will undergo confirmatory molecular tests such as CBNAAT and TrueNAT. Those testing positive will be administered immediate treatment, in line with national guidelines. If a person is TB negative she or he may be referred to a physician to determine other cause of lung abnormality. According to the National TB Prevalence Survey, nearly 43% of cases would be missed without chest X-ray screening--underscoring the critical role of imaging in disease detection.
