Shortage of free drug regimens burdens TB patients in Nagaland

May 22, 2024 15 Views No Comment

• State facing deficiency for about 3 months, says official
• Dept exploring alternative solutions, promise reimbursement

Morung Express news
Kohima | May 22

The shortage of free drug regimens for the treatment of tuberculosis (TB) in Nagaland continues to burden TB patients, who have to procure these medications outside of the District TB centres.

The State has been facing this shortage for about three months, State TB Officer, National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (NTEP), Dr Vezokholu Theyo informed The Morung Express.

According to communication from the Central TB Division, there is a shortage of drugs, and this is occurring for the first time, although the reason is unknown, she said.

Consequently, the officer in charge of the NTEP Cell at the Directorate of Health and Family Welfare noted that drugs for the first line of treatment, consisting of four fixed drug combinations (4FDC) of Isoniazid, Rifampicin, Pyrazinamide, and Ethambutol, and the 3FDC of Isoniazid, Rifampicin, and Ethambutol, are in short supply.

Dr Theyo clarified that while some supplies have reached Nagaland, some other combinations are expected to arrive soon.

“Strips of 28 tablets are available in the market in different types, but we have ordered whatever we could not get from the Central TB Division centre. It took a little time, but they have arrived. Another drug, called 3FDC, will reach soon,” she added.

Around 10,000 blisters of the 4FDC, calculated to meet the State’s requirements, will be arriving very soon.
However, no timeline was given.

The TB officer said that this time they are procuring directly from the manufacturer.

Regarding the current arrangements for patients taking the TB drug regimen, she said reimbursement will be made for those purchasing from drug stores at the moment.

“We have asked patients who are currently purchasing TB drugs to keep their cash memos so they can claim reimbursement later at the district level.”

For instance, claims of about Rs. 38,000 for reimbursement has been received from Mokokchung district has so far, she added.

Dr Theyo further said the department will have an executive committee meeting, and once funds are released, the cost of the purchased drugs will be reimbursed to the patients.

It may be noted that in the January to March quarter, 892 TB cases were notified in Nagaland.

Meanwhile, the lack of supply is burdening patents.

Ado (name changed), who is currently undergoing treatment for pulmonary TB in Kohima, said that ever since he was diagnosed with TB last month, his family members have had to purchase the medication from drug stores.

“We were asked to get a few medicines from Naga Hospital Kohima (NHAK) and on reaching there, we were informed to wait; but week after week, we had to continue buying since the drug didn’t reach us,” he described the situation in agony.

Hoping that the free drug regimen will reach them soon, he further added that his family had to come from their village to get the drugs.

One time, the drugs were not found in private hospitals he added.