Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:
(a) whether any steps have been taken to implement the Supreme Court direction asking the Government to administer daily dose treatment to Tuberculosis patients and if so, the details thereof;
(b) whether it is true that the Government has adopted only six out of the sixteen recommendations made by the World Health Organization for diagnosing and preventing tuberculosis; and
(c) if so, the reasons therefor?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND
FAMILY WELFARE
(SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)
(a): Yes, as per the directions of the Supreme Court, daily dose treatment to Tuberculosis has been implemented in the form of daily Fixed Dose Combinations (FDCs) to all Drug Sensitive TB patients from October 2017 with country wide coverage achieved by March 2018.
(b) & (c): No, Out of the 16 recommendations made by WHO, 12 recommendations has been implemented by India.
Two recommendations out of 16 have been implemented partially. The Ministry does not agree with certain components of these recommendations as alternate viable options are available and being implemented.
One recommendation out of 16 regarding TB-LAM is used to diagnose TB in PLWHA with CD4 = 100 µl for seriously ill has been not implemented. Ministry does not agree in principle with the recommendations as alternate viable options are available and being implemented.
One recommendation regarding country’s enrolment in WHO collaborative registration procedure is under consideration in the Ministry.