TEAM HERALD
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PANJIM: All healthcare providers and clinics will now have to compulsorily report every case of Tuberculosis (TB) to the local health authorities, according to a directive issued by the Directorate of Health Services.
The notification now makes it mandatory for all cases defined as ‘patients diagnosed with at least one sputum specimen positive for acid fast bacilli or culture’ –positive for Mycobacterium tuberculosis or RNTCP endorsed Rapid Diagnostic Molecular Test positive for Tuberculosis or a patient diagnosed clinically as a case of tuberculosis, without microbiologic confirmation, and initiated on anti-TB drugs.
Earlier, the government used to ask for reporting of only those detected with pulmonary tuberculosis to be notified to the local health authorities. “It is essential to have complete information of all Tuberculosis cases. Therefore the health care providers including clinics run or managed by the Government (including local authorities) private or Non Governmental Organization Sector and/or individual practitioner shall notify every tuberculosis case to local authorities i.e. Health Officer of the area of Jurisdiction/Chief Medical Officer of a TB Control Programme every month,” a government notification issued Thursday reads.
The government has cited increasing cases of Multi-drug Resistant TB as a reason for the change in stance. “Early diagnosis and complete treatment of Tuberculosis is the corner stone of Tuberculosis prevention and control strategy. Delayed diagnosis and incomplete treatment may contribute to complications,” the notification reads.
