KOZHIKODE: The new daily drug treatment for Tuberculosis in the government sector has begun in the district. All government hospitals, from primary health centres to the district hospital will be ready with the new medicines by the month-end. This is expected to benefit thousands of TB patients in the district as the daily drug treatment was offered only by private hospitals till now. As per the data of the district TB cell, 1613 TB patients are in the district.
“The advantage of the daily regime treatment is that patients can take less number of tablets. The less the weight of the patient, the fewer tablets he has to take,” said district TB officer Dr P.P. Pramod Kumar. A person weighing 25-39 kg has to take two tablets, 40-54 kg category three tablets, 55-69 kg category four tablets and five tablets for those weighing above 70 kg. Currently, all the patients in the weight category of 30 kg-60 kg have to take seven tablets a day.
“The cut in the tablets happened as four tablets were converted into one according to the fixed drug combination,” added Dr Pramod Kumar. Corporation mayor Thottathil Raveendran inaugurated the distribution of daily drug treatment at a function at the mental health centre, Kuthiravattam on Thursday. Dr P.P. Pramod Kumar presided. Corporation secretary Mrunmai Joshi, Government Medical College Chest hospital superintendent Dr T.P. Rajagopal, Dr A.K. Abdul Khadar, IMA Kozhikode president Dr P.N. Ajitha spoke. WHO consultants of the Revised National Tuberculosis Control Program (RNTCP) provided training to medical officers on the new drug treatment.
