The patients undergoing treatment for XDR, a form of multiple drug-resistant (MDR) TB, are facing severe shortage of drugs in Dehradun and other districts. There are nearly 80 patients in Uttarakhand diagnosed with MDR tuberculosis. In 2016, around 50 patients were diagnosed with XDR TB.
The deficiency arose after the directorate failed to tell the district officials about the stocks. The directorate of health and medical receives the stock of medicines from centre.
“There arose a problem due to miscommunication on the availability of medicines. The district medical officers are not aware that they can buy these medicines under local purchase. We have now communicated the message to them,” said, Dr Vagesh Kala, state TB control programme officer.
Dr Kala also said patients suffering from XDR TB should get treatment from government hospitals. “A private practitioner does not maintain record of the patient nor is the patient aware that his body will become drug-resistant if treatment given is wrong,” he said. Early detection and complete treatment was the only way to get rid of the disease.
In Uttarakhand, 364 cases of MDR TB were reported in 2016 with maximum number of cases being detected in Haridwar, Dehradun, Udham Singh Nagar and Nainital districts. Most of the patients are in the age group of 18 to 38 years.
