Treating Multi-Drug Resistant Tuberculosis Patients
The World Health Organization’s (WHO) Global Tuberculosis Report 2017 revealed that an estimated 10.4 million people fell ill with TB in 2016: 56% of these were in five countries – India, Indonesia, China, the Philippines and Pakistan. In 2016, there were 600,000 new cases with resistance to Rifampicin (RR- TB), the most effective first-line drug of which 490,000 had multi-drug resistant TB (MDR-TB). 47% of these cases were in India, China and the Russian Federation. The magnitude of Drug Resistant-TB problem in India has also risen. Currently, WHO estimates incidence of MDR-TB to be around 147,000. This translates to 11 patients per 100,000 population.
A report published by Dr. Zarir F. Udwadia, Consultant Chest Physician at P.D. Hinduja Hospital & Medical Research Centre in 2012 resulted in a nationwide notification of TB as well as a major restructuring in the National TB Control Program in Maharashtra and Bombay Municipal Corporation to enhance case detection and treatment of MDR-TB and XDR-TB.
Hinduja Global Solutions limited (HGS) has joined hands with Mumbai-based P.D. Hinduja Hospital & Medical Research Centre for the “Treat to Cure MDR TB” program. This initiative aims to provide treatment for Multi-Drug Resistant Tuberculosis (MDR-TB) patients and address the cause of growing mortality rate due to TB in India.
The project includes funding the total cost of the two-year treatment cycle – medicines, labs test and other diagnostic services required by these patients.
Dr. Camilla Rodrigues, Consultant Microbiologist & Chairperson – Infection Control Committee, P D Hinduja Hospital & Medical Research Center remarked, “TB is the world’s biggest public health killer and Drug Resistant TB threatens to derail the progress to control it. The treatment cost for each patient is approximately two lakh rupees and HGS’ support is a big help for us.”
