NEW DELHI: The health ministry on Friday approved the introduction of the BPaLM regimen – a novel treatment for Multidrug-Resistant Tuberculosis (MDR-TB) – under its National TB Elimination Program (NTEP).
While traditional MDR-TB treatments can last up to 20 months with severe side effects, BPaLM regimen can cure the drug-resistant TB in just six months with high treatment success rate.
India has close to 75,000 drug-resistant TB patients. The health ministry said in a statement that these patients will now be able to avail benefit of this shorter regimen.
“With the other advantages, there will be an overall saving in cost,” the health ministry said. BPaLM regimen includes a new anti-TB drug namely Pretomanid in combination with Bedaquiline & Linezolid (with/without Moxifloxacin). Pretomanid has earlier been approved & licenced for use in India by Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO).
Govt sources said the drug combination has been proven to be safe, more effective and a quicker treatment option than the previous MDR-TB treatment procedure. “The department of health and family welfare, in consultation with the department of health research, ensured validation of this new TB treatment regimen that witnessed a thorough review of evidence by in-country subject experts. It has also got a health technology assessment done to ensure that this MDR-TB treatment option is safe and cost effective,” said an official.
She added that a country-wide time-bound roll out plan of the BPaLM regimen is being prepared by the central TB division in consultation with states/UTs, which includes rigorous capacity building of health professionals for safe administration of the new regimen.
India contributes approximately one-fourth of the international cases, roughly 25 lakh out of 1.05 crore globally.
To tackle this public health problem, the country developed a national strategic plan with focus on early diagnosis of all the TB patients, prompt treatment with quality assured drugs and treatment regimens along with suitable patient support systems to promote adherence.
After some initial success, the programme is struggling and that’s why we are looking at newer strategies, said an official.
While traditional MDR-TB treatments can last up to 20 months with severe side effects, BPaLM regimen can cure the drug-resistant TB in just six months with high treatment success rate.
India has close to 75,000 drug-resistant TB patients. The health ministry said in a statement that these patients will now be able to avail benefit of this shorter regimen.
“With the other advantages, there will be an overall saving in cost,” the health ministry said. BPaLM regimen includes a new anti-TB drug namely Pretomanid in combination with Bedaquiline & Linezolid (with/without Moxifloxacin). Pretomanid has earlier been approved & licenced for use in India by Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO).
Govt sources said the drug combination has been proven to be safe, more effective and a quicker treatment option than the previous MDR-TB treatment procedure. “The department of health and family welfare, in consultation with the department of health research, ensured validation of this new TB treatment regimen that witnessed a thorough review of evidence by in-country subject experts. It has also got a health technology assessment done to ensure that this MDR-TB treatment option is safe and cost effective,” said an official.
She added that a country-wide time-bound roll out plan of the BPaLM regimen is being prepared by the central TB division in consultation with states/UTs, which includes rigorous capacity building of health professionals for safe administration of the new regimen.
India contributes approximately one-fourth of the international cases, roughly 25 lakh out of 1.05 crore globally.
To tackle this public health problem, the country developed a national strategic plan with focus on early diagnosis of all the TB patients, prompt treatment with quality assured drugs and treatment regimens along with suitable patient support systems to promote adherence.
After some initial success, the programme is struggling and that’s why we are looking at newer strategies, said an official.