Govt urged to redraw TB control plan

The report says that according to the WHO estimates, around 18 lakh new tuberculosis cases are reported in India each year. Of these nearly eight lakh are smear-positive and highly infectious cases.

Expressing concern, the committee has asked the government to ‘‘refocus on vulnerable areas’’ as the ‘‘massive funding and trained manpower along with a very large number of NGOs and private practitioners failed to keep pace with the report of expansion of disease’’.

Pointing out flaws in the existing system, the report says tuberculosis drugs are prescribed for very short periods and then too, patients have to travel long distances to clinics.

The panel says the plans should be kept flexible and drafted at district-level. The committee has also criticised the Central Government Health Scheme, the extensive medical insurance network that caters to around 44 lakh employees and pensioners. ‘‘The network of CGHS dispensaries has degenerated to a stage where the patients receive neither treatment nor consultation,’’ the report says.