Mumbai civic body opens centre at Dharavi for drug-resistant TB patients
This is the fourth centre for MDR TB opened by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) in the city.
A new centre for the treatment of multi-drug resistant tuberculosis (MDR TB) was inaugurated in Dharavi on February 3 to improve patients’ access to better treatment.
This is the fourth centre for MDR TB opened by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) in the city.
Municipal officials said that such centres will ensure patients’ adherence to treatment schedule.
“Many MDR TB patients visit hospitals at the cost of their daily wages. Having a centre near their house will improve access to the treatment and improve adherence,” said Dr Daksha Shah, who heads the TB treatment under the Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme.
“It will also significantly reduce out-of-the-pocket expenses for patients,”she said.
Patients with drug resistant tuberculosis are infected with bacteria that are resistant to isoniazid and rifampicin, two of the most effective anti-TB drugs. Poor adherence to treatment leads to increase in MDR TB cases.
The other three centres are in Khar, Malwani and Santacruz. The centres have outpatient services.
Patients who need hospitalisation will have to go to the Sewri TB hospital, Dr Shah said.
Mumbai has around 4,000 MDR TB patients, which is 10% of all TB patients.
Dr Vikas Oswal, a chest physician from Govandi, said “These patients don’t have to travel to the nodal centre at Sewri in trains and buses where they can infect other people. Also follow ups become easier which leads to better adherence,” he said.
The BMC will also start a new MDR TB centre at BJ Wadia Hospital, Parel, in February, especially for children. Presently, 200 children with MDR TB are registered with the civic body.
