NEW DELHI: Two months after the Union health ministry launched a miracle drug for Tuberculosis-Bedaquiline with great pomp and show, the drug has not been put to use on a single patient.
While the drug is available at the six sites shortlisted by the government, experts are waiting for the “drug powder” used to check the drug susceptibility before it is prescribed to a patient.
Bedaquiline is the only drug which can be used on multi drug resistant cases-where all other drugs have failed.
“Bedaquiline cannot be given to patients until the DST-which is a drug susceptibility tests are done. A “specific” powder is needed to check the drug resistancy. Till the drug technicians don’t get it, it cannot be given to anyone,” an official on condition of anonymity said.
The ministry had shortlisted six centers in India including Ahmedabad, Gujarat, Chennai, Delhi, Guwahati where the drug is launched for its introduction on patients who are found to be resistant to two vital primary drugs in DOTS Plus regimen.
While, the government had in March procured 600 courses of Bedaquiline, it is lying unused, thanks to the callous approach of the government, which is yet to procure the drug powder for laboratory testing for drug susceptibility.
“Bedaquiline has to be preserved till the end. One patient would need 200 tablets. After it is introduced, the drug would help over 600 patients,” added the official. The drug was launch by the Union health minister J.P. Nadda ahead of World TB day on March 21.
