National Anti-TB Drug Resistance Survey
The Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme (RNTCP) has initiated a national anti-tuberculosis drug resistance survey in a representative sample of 5214 patients consisting of newly diagnosed sputum smear-positive pulmonary TB cases and previously treated sputum smear-positive pulmonary TB cases. The nationwide drug resistance survey (DRS) will provide RNTCP with a better estimate on the burden of Multi-Drug Resistant Tuberculosis in the community. This survey will be the first national level survey for TB drug resistance in India. As part of the survey, the samples will be subjected to susceptibility testing for 13 anti-TB drugs (5 first line drugs and 8 second line drugs).
A total of 527 patients have been registered under the survey by end October, 2014.
There is no evidence to suggest that a person with MDR-TB may not spread a disease which is also MDR-TB.
The Government is implementing services for programmatic management of drug resistant TB (PMDT) since March 2013. Under the Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme, diagnosis of Drug Resistant TB is conducted through quality assured drug susceptibility testing currently available at 58 Culture & drug susceptibility testing (C-DST) laboratories, of which 49 laboratories are also equipped with rapid molecular test named Line Probe Assay(LPA). Cartridge Based Nucleic Acid Amplification (CBNAAT) Test Machines have been installed at 89 sites for early detection of Rifampicin resistance among TB cases. These rapid diagnostic tools provide opportunity for early diagnosis followed by early initiation of treatment which helps in preventing the disease from spreading to others.
Diagnosis and treatment for both, drug sensitive and drug resistant TB, under RNTCP, is free of cost.
The Health Minister, Shri J P Nadda stated this in a written reply in the RajyaSabha here today.
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MV/BK