Rohit Shishodia
As many as 49,050 patients suffering from tuberculosis have availed free drugs for treatment from private clinics and pharmacies so far in 2019. In a written reply to Parliament over free treatment of TB in private clinics, Minister of State for Health Ashwini Kumar Choubey, said that anti-TB drugs have been stocked at public sector health facilities and drug stores.

He further stated that for the provision of free anti-TB drugs to TB patients, drugs are also supplied to private clinics and pharmacies to dispense them.

According to Choubey, private clinics and pharmacies in 519 districts across India have been provided free anti-TB drugs. “Mechanism to provide free anti-TB drugs for TB patients include – referral of TB patients to public sector health facility or by dispensing anti-TB drugs at private clinics and pharmacies,” he said.

“Decision on either option of provision of drugs depends on the patients and providers’ interaction and convenience,” added Choubey.

The minister stated that Revised National Tuberculosis Control Program has policy of provision of free drugs to all TB patients. All TB patients in public sector avail free anti-TB drug. “However, 8% of TB patients notified from private sector availed free anti-TB drugs from the government,” said the minister.

13,304 patients with TB from Bihar (highest) have availed free drugs from private clinics. No patients from Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Arunachal Pradesh, Dadra & Nagar Haveli, Daman & Diu, Goa, Lakshadweep, Sikkim and Tripura have sought free drugs from private sector.

According to the health ministry, 27 lakh people are living with TB in India. 5.5 lakh TB patients are still not notified.