The number of tuberculosis patients registered under the Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme (RNTCP) in 2014 was more than 14 lakh, the Rajya Sabha was told today.
"The total TB cases registered under RNTCP in the year 2014 is 14,45,284," Health Minister J P Nadda said in a written reply.
As per data available, there were around 2,55,503 TB cases in Uttar Pradesh while there were 1,35,615 cases registered in Maharashtra. In Madhya Pradesh, there were 1,00,121 cases in the same year.
Nadda said that under the government implemented RNTCP, diagnosis and treatment facilities including anti-TB drugs are provided free of cost to all TB patients.
"Designated microscopy centres have been established for quality diagnosis for every one lakh population in the general areas and for every 50,000 population in the tribal, hilly and difficult areas.
"More than 13,000 microscopy centres have been established in the country. Treatment centres (DOT Centres) have been established near to residence of patients to the extent possible, both, in urban and rural areas," he said.
Nadda said that all government Hospitals, community health centres (CHC), Primary Health Centres (PHC), sub centres are DOT centres.
In addition, NGOs, private practitioners (PPs) involved under the RNTCP, community volunteers, Anganwadi workers, women self-help groups and others also function as DOT providers/DOT Centres.
"Drugs are provided under direct observation and the patients are monitored so that they complete their treatment. Programmatic Management of Drug Resistant TB (PMDT) services, for the management of multidrug resistant tuberculosis (MDRTB) and TBHIV collaborative activities for TBHIV co-infection are being implemented throughout the country," he said.
