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Free TB helpline in India launched

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The Union and Population Services International launched a free TB helpline at a World TB Day event in New Delhi on 27 March.  The helpline is a service of Project Axshya and is designed to provide callers free information about TB, available diagnostic and treatment services and also the nearest Designated Microscopy Centres (DMCs) where they may get tested , thus working to increase TB case detection and improve treatment adherence.

Initially launched in 24 districts across Punjab, Karnataka and Maharashtra, the DMC Helpline will soon be scaled up across all the districts of the three states and also in other states of India.

The DMC Helpline accepts incoming calls and SMS toll-free with the aim of providing information about the nearest health facility with a DMC – and ultimately, ensuring that patients receive proper diagnosis and case management.  

Early diagnosis and complete treatment of TB are the cornerstones of the Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme (RNTCP) implemented by the Central TB Division’s (CTD), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. RNTCP’s programme provides quality-assured diagnosis through approximately 13,000 DMCs, free medicines to all TB patients and also the necessary supportive mechanisms for ensuring treatment adherence and completion.

India has 2.2 million TB cases a year, of which more than 900,000 are not notified, according to the WHO Global TB Report 2013.   This is a major concern for TB control.  One contributing factor is the huge private health care sector, which offers TB treatment that does not always adhere to RNTCP protocols and standards. This is one issue that the helpline seeks to address by giving callers the information around available diagnostic and treatment services as well as the importance of completing the treatment regimen.

In the future the helpline will also offer outbound calls and SMSes to healthcare providers designed to build their capacity and knowledge of TB symptoms and treatment protocols to ensure correct TB diagnosis, an approved treatment regimen and follow-up as per the continuum of care for TB.