Delhi health dept sacks supervisor, ‘carelessness’ led to TB patient not getting essential drugs
According to an official from the health department, it came to the department's notice that "Harshita, a school-going girl in North District was deprived of essential TB medicines due to the carelessness of a DOTS Plus Supervisor".
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Harshita and her mother Jyoti Singh at their Jahangirpuri home. (Express/Farhan Sayeed Masoodi)The Delhi Health department has terminated the services of a DOTS Plus Supervisor on the ground that his alleged “carelessness” led to a Tuberculosis (TB) patient being deprived of essential medicines, an official said on Friday. This comes after The Indian Express on December 17 reported on the non-availability of TB medicine to Harshita Singh Chandel, a 16-year-old girl from the city.
After Chandel filed a writ petition in the Delhi High Court on the erratic supply of TB drugs, the court had directed the state government to provide her with medication.
According to sources in the Union Health Ministry, drug-resistant TB (DRTB) regimen drugs are adequately available in all states and Union territories, including at the state drug store in Delhi. They added that adequate supplies of longer DRTB regimen drugs like Cap Cycloserine and Tab Linezolid are available for all patients currently on longer DRTB oral regimens in Delhi. Further, the ministry is in touch with states and UTs to ensure last mile delivery of the medicines, the sources said.
This comes amid the Health department terminating the services of a senior DOTS Plus Supervisor posted at Babu Jagjivan Ram Memorial Hospital Chest Clinic under National Tuberculosis Elimination Program, National Health Mission. Harshita is undergoing treatment at the hospital.
According to an official from the health department, it came to the department’s notice that “Harshita, a school-going girl in North District was deprived of essential TB medicines due to the carelessness of a DOTS Plus Supervisor”.
“Responding firmly, the department terminated the services of the supervisor within 24 hours, sending a strong message that such lapses will not be tolerated. Also, the girl was provided with all the prescribed medicines,” the official added.
The Delhi government had on Tuesday formed a committee to look into gaps in the supply of TB medicines in the city.
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