The district will soon have an advanced technology for the tuberculosis diagnosis. The CBNAAT (Cartridge Based Nucleic Acid Amplification Test) machine recommended by the WHO (World Health Organization) will be made available to city residents free of cost.
“CBNAAT machine will be installed in the district hospital within a month. A team from Delhi will soon come for the inspection after which the machine will available for the general public use,” Dr Rajeev Sharma, district tuberculosis officer said.
The CBNAAT machine is operational in Amritsar and Patiala hospitals.
Dr Sharma added that the CBNAAT machine will help to diagnose tuberculosis within two hours. In addition to this, it will also help to identify whether the patient is resistant to Rifampicin drug (a drug used in the treatment of tuberculosis) or not. In case, one is resistant to Rifampicin they will be put under special treatment.
He added that the cost of this machine is around Rs 22 lakh and private laboratories charged anything between Rs 2,000 and Rs 2,500. The machine will be helpful for the treatment of children and HIV patients. The International Union against Tuberculosis is an agency that will be allotting this machine in the region.
Before the sending of the machine was finalised, there were apprehensions that the civil hospital did not have a suitable place for the installment of this machine for which Naresh Gujral, Rajya Sabha MP has sanctioned Rs 20 lakh.
{{/usCountry}}Before the sending of the machine was finalised, there were apprehensions that the civil hospital did not have a suitable place for the installment of this machine for which Naresh Gujral, Rajya Sabha MP has sanctioned Rs 20 lakh.
{{/usCountry}}Rogi Kalyan Samiti member Surinder Saini claimed that a cheque of Rs 20 lakh had been handed over to the deputy commissioner from the MPLAD funds. “A room will be constructed near the tuberculosis lab for the machine,” a source said.
Last year, the number of patients who turned up for the treatment of tuberculosis in the district civil hospital was 3,600. As per the two quarterly report of this year, the number of patients for tuberculosis treatment in the civil hospital is 1,700.