Stock-Outs, Shortages of Critical Drugs at DOTS Centres ‘Very Disturbing’, Says Network of TB Survivors
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New Delhi: Flagging the acute shortage and stock-out of TB (tuberculosis) medicines, including drug-resistant ones, at DOTS and DOTS plus centres, a network of TB patients, survivors, HIV affected and public health activists have written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Health Ministry and all other departments concerned.
Listing the shortage and non-availability of these critical drugs (Isoniazid, Refampicin, Pyrazinamide and Ethambutol etc) to fight TB, the letter says: “As a country with the highest burden of tuberculosis in the world, we are deeply disturbed that India is experiencing stock outs of critically required drugs to treat people those with TB.”
Pointing out that the National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP) acknowledges “an uninterrupted supply of quality assured Anti TB Drugs is an essential component of DOTS strategy,” the letter says: “The most severe impact of these persistent stockouts of anti-TB drugs is on people currently on treatment, leading to a situation of treatment interruption and a very high risk of developing resistance.”
The letter, signed by Ganesh Acharya, an HIV/TB survivor and activist and Brinelle D’Souza of Jan Swasthya Abhiyan, endorsed by over 50 organisations and individuals, has appealed to the Prime Minister to take urgent action to restore supply of these critical drugs, undertake emergency procurement and allocation of these drugs to DOTS and DOTS Plus centres that are facing stock-outs and shortages, conduct a speedy assessment of stocks, among others.
Read the full letter here.
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