Summary
In March 2024, a week before World TB Day, a letter dated 18 March 2024 was issued by the Deputy Director General (DDG) TB regarding the drug procurement for drug-sensitive (DS) TB.[3] It stated that “the procurement process of most anti-TB drugs and diagnostics has been completed at the national level. Central Government procurement of DSTB-IP (A) and DSTB-CP (A) is at an advanced stage. However, the supplies may get delayed due to unforeseen and extraneous circumstances”. Further, it stated that the approval of the competent authority was being conveyed for local procurement of these drugs for the period of three months so that individual patient care would not be affected. There was flexibility offered regarding pack sizes and if the dose combinations and dosages per pill per day were as per the National TB Elimination Program (NTEP) recommendations. Clear instructions were provided that the drugs could be procured at the State/District level by utilizing the budget under the National Health Mission (NHM) already approved by the relevant head. Also, on a case-by-case basis, the provision for reimbursement of costs towards the drugs was stated in case the district health facilities were unable to provide free drugs.
Despite the above clear instructions from the DDG office, anti-TB drug supplies were disrupted in many states for nearly four to five months (March-July 2024) and some rural areas continue to have a drug shortage…
