This move by the Union Government is expected to significantly boost the country’s progress to achieve its national goal of Ending TB in India
The BPaLM regimen, which consists four-drug combination – Bedaquiline, Pretomanid, Linezolid and Moxifloxacin, has been proven to be safe, more effective and a quicker treatment option than the previous MDR-TB treatment procedure. While traditional MDR-TB treatments can last up to 20 months with severe side effects, BPaLM regimen can cure the drug-resistant TB in just six months with high treatment success rate. India’s 75,000 drug-resistant TB patients will now be able to avail benefit of this shorter regimen. With the other advantages, there will be an overall saving in cost.
Department of Health & Family Welfare, in consultation with Department of Health Research ensured validation of this new TB treatment regimen that witnessed a thorough review of evidences by in-country subject experts. Department of Health & Family Welfare has also got a Health Technology Assessment done through the Department of Health Research to ensure that this MDR-TB treatment option is safe and cost effective.
This move by Government of India is expected to significantly boost the country’s progress to achieve its national goal of Ending TB. A country-wide time-bound roll out plan of the BPaLM regimen is being prepared by the Central TB Division of Ministry of Health & Family Welfare in consultation with States/UTs, which includes rigorous capacity building of health professionals for safe administration of the new regimen.
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