The Union Health Ministry has approved the introduction of BPaLM regimen, a new treatment for multi-drug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) under its National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (NTEP) as a highly effective and shorter duration treatment option.
This regimen includes a new anti-TB drug, called Pretomanid, in combination with Bedaquiline and Linezolid (with or without Moxifloxacin), the ministry said in a statement. Pretomanid has previously been approved and licensed for use in India by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO).
The BPaLM regimen, which consists of a combination of four drugs (bedaquiline, pretomanid, linezolid and moxifloxacin) has been shown to be safe, more effective and a faster treatment option than the previous approach to treating multidrug-resistant tuberculosis, the ministry said.
“While traditional treatments for multidrug-resistant TB can take up to 20 months and produce serious side effects, the BPaLM regimen can cure drug-resistant TB in as little as six months with a high treatment success rate,” the statement said.
“India’s 75,000 drug-resistant TB patients will now be able to avail the benefit of this shorter regimen,” the ministry said.
The Department of Health and Family Welfare, in consultation with the Department of Health Research, ensured validation of this new TB treatment regimen which was subject to a comprehensive evidence review by the country’s subject matter experts.
A Health Technology Assessment was also conducted through the Department of Health Research to ensure that this treatment option for MDR-TB is safe and cost-effective, the statement said.
This government move is expected to significantly boost the country’s progress towards achieving its national goal of ending TB.
The Central Tuberculosis Division of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare is preparing a time-bound countrywide implementation plan for the BPaLM regimen in consultation with states and union territories. The plan includes rigorous capacity building of health professionals for safe administration of the new regimen.
Under the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India has set a target of eliminating TB by 2025, five years ahead of the global goal of eliminating the disease as per the Sustainable Development Goals.
(Only the headline and image of this report may have been reworked by Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
First published: September 6, 2024 | 17:57 IS
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