In a major boost to the national programme against tuberculosis, the Government of India has entered into a Public Private Partnership (PPP) with a private laboratory in the city for diagnosing Multi Drug Resistance Tuberculosis (MDR- TB). With this, the city is now all set to initiate Directly Observed Therapy Short-Course (DOTS) Plus programme to treat MDR TB patients. There are many patients in the DOTS programme who have failed treatment.

Recently, officials from the Government of India accredited Hinduja Hospital’s laboratory for diagnosing MDR TB (whether TB patients have developed resistance to first line drugs — DOTS therapy) under Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme (RNTCP).

“Central TB division has accredited Hinduja laboratory. Currently training is on and we will start with identification of samples, only then can we roll out DOTS Plus. Hopefully we should start by next month. The cost of tests will be borne by the government under RNTCP,” said Dr L S Chauhan, deputy director general, TB.

“Accreditation of laboratory at JJ Hospital for MDR TB is also under process. It will take another two to three months to accredit the lab for diagnosing,” added Dr Chauhan.

“We were waiting for the accreditation of the laboratory. Now that the memorandum of understanding is signed between the state and the laboratory, we are expecting that the Center will roll out the second line drugs —DOTS Plus by next month in the city,” said Dr Arun Bamne, Mumbai District Tuberculosis Society, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation.

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