NEW DELHI: To meet the aim of eliminating tuberculosis by 2025, five years ahead of the global target, the Centre on Friday announced the introduction of a novel treatment for Multi-Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis (MDR-TB), touted as a highly effective and shorter treatment option.For India’s 75,000 drug-resistant TB patients, this brings much relief as they will be able to avail themselves of the benefit of this shorter regimen. It will also mean overall cost savings.The BPaLM regimen includes a new anti-TB drug, namely Pretomanid, in combination with Bedaquiline and Linezolid (with/without Moxifloxacin).Pretomanid was approved and licensed for use in India by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO), a statement by the Union Health Ministry said.The new regimen will be introduced under the Ministry’s National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP).The BPaLM regimen, which consists of a four-drug combination – Bedaquiline, Pretomanid, Linezolid, and Moxifloxacin – has been proven to be safer, more effective, and a quicker treatment option than the previous MDR-TB treatment procedure, the Ministry statement said.While traditional MDR-TB treatments can last up to 20 months with severe side effects, the BPaLM regimen can cure drug-resistant TB in just six months with a high treatment success rate.In consultation with the Department of Health Research, the Health Ministry ensured the validation of this new TB treatment regimen, which was witnessed by a thorough review of evidence by in-country subject experts, it added.The Ministry has also conducted a Health Technology Assessment through the Department of Health Research to ensure that this MDR-TB treatment option is safe and cost-effective.This move by the Centre is expected to significantly boost the country’s progress towards achieving its national goal of ending TB.A country-wide time-bound rollout plan for the BPaLM regimen is being prepared by the Central TB Division of the Health Ministry in consultation with states and union territories. This plan includes rigorous capacity building for health professionals to administer the new regimen safely.The National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (NTEP), previously known as the Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme (RNTCP), aims to strategically reduce the TB burden in India by 2025, five years ahead of the Sustainable Development Goals.Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared India’s goal at the Delhi End TB Summit in March 2018.In 2020, the RNTCP was renamed the National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP) to emphasise the Government’s aim of eliminating TB in India by 2025.
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