When Odisha runs short of TB medications, patients suffer

Despite Odisha’s government’s aggressive goal of eliminating tuberculosis by 2025, a severe lack of essential medications is driving many patients to miss doses, which is severely discouraged by medical professionals.

Isoniazid, Rifampicin, Ethambutol, and Pyrazinamide are the four medications used to treat drug-sensitive tuberculosis; they are alternated every two months with Isoniazid, Rifampicin, and Ethambutol.

According to official sources, the Center often provides the medications to the states as part of the National TB Elimination Program (NTEP). However, the supply has been completely cut off for more than a month, seriously interfering with the elimination program.

With over 50,000 patients undergoing treatment, Odisha is now the state with the second-highest number of TB notifications in the nation. The top state on the list is Himachal Pradesh, followed by Odisha and Andhra Pradesh. Following the Covid-19 epidemic, there has been a roughly 45% increase in case notifications.

Due to a shortage of medication, thousands of patients in high-prevalence districts like as Balasore, Jajpur, Keonjhar, Khurda, Mayurbhanj, Ganjam, and Kandhamal are forced to leave Tuberculosis Units (TUs) empty-handed. Several hospitals near the district headquarters are also without TB medications.

Bijaylaxmi Routray, a social worker who assists TB sufferers, said that the state’s circumstances are unstable. “We had never seen a scarcity of TB medications this severe. Since January, patients have experienced a shortage of medication since they were given it for a week or two rather than a month. Since the medications are completely unavailable in the government supply chain, they are now being urged to wait, the woman said.

Drug-resistant tuberculosis infections are expected to rise despite the fact that many patients have already stopped taking their medication due to a scarcity. I’ve been drug-free for more than two weeks. I have no idea what is ahead for me. Now that I’m terrified, a patient stated.

Despite requests for districts to get medications locally in order to alleviate the situation, it is discovered that pharmaceuticals are not readily accessible on the open market in accordance with demand. “A tender was floated by us last month. An official from the district said that no retailer submitted a proposal to provide the necessary amount of medications.

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has been tasked with handling it by the state government in the meantime. The matter was also brought up by health officials during the recent visit of Union Health Secretary Apurva Chandra, who gave the assurance that once the procurement for 2024–25 is completed, supplies will run smoothly. Dr. Arghya Pradhan, joint director of tuberculosis, said, “We are expecting the supply of drugs soon.”

Lethargic in combat

Under NTEP, the Center supplies the TB medications to the states.

For more than a month, supply has completely halted.

50,000 people are receiving care throughout the state.