In its drive to eliminate tuberculosis by 2050, the government is expanding the Directly Observed Treatment-Shortcourse (DOTS) programme to the sub-health post level. At present, DOTS-related services are offered at 560 treatment centres and 2,795 sub-treatment centres across the country — where 33,207 TB patients are being treated (Around 90 per cent of patients attending these centres complete their DOTS). Nevertheless, many poor people living far from the treatment centres have no option but to camp up near the centres for the whole duration of the treatment that extends upto eight months.

Of the estimated 80,000 reported cases of TB, less than half of them are receiving treatment due mainly to lack of easy accessibility to the treatment centres. Ignorance about the disease is another reason. In this regard, the government decision to establish TB centres at the VDC level will definitely encourage an increasing number of people to seek and complete treatment. At the same time, the incidence of TB in AIDS patients is rising. In this front too, it is a welcome sign that government is coming out with a new, integrated policy for the treatment of the AIDS-infected TB patients. A lot still needs to be done if the government’s target of eliminating TB by 2050 is to be reached. Towards that end, greater awareness among rural people about TB and the easy accessibility to treatment centres in rural areas are a must. Concerted effort on the part of local healthcare bodies is, therefore, essential.