Free treatment for TB patients

Haryana has launched free diagnostic and treatment services for multi-drug resistant (MDR)-TB cases in all 21 districts.

Haryana has launched free diagnostic and treatment services for multi-drug resistant (MDR)-TB cases in all 21 districts.

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Besides, for the diagnostic purpose of MDR-TB, the public health laboratory at Karnal has also been upgraded to the state-level intermediate reference lab under the Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme (RNTCP).

This was stated by state health minister Rao Narender Singh on Thursday.

Singh said, "The rapid diagnosis of drug resistant tuberculosis is one of the cornerstones for global TB control as it allows early epidemiological and therapeutic interventions. A major breakthrough in the diagnosis of multi-drug tuberculosis cases had been achieved through the introduction of a new technique called 'line probe assay' in December last year."

Singh said, "MDR-TB patients are admitted in DOTS-Plus site at PGIMS, Rohtak, during the initial days. Since the implementation of DOTS-Plus in the first phase of December 2008, nearly 306 patients have been given treatment."