Odisha Govt Urges Centre for Adequate Supply of Anti-Tuberculosis Drugs

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has raised concerns over the inadequate supply of anti-tuberculosis (TB) drugs from the Central TB Division of the Government of India, impacting the implementation of the National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP) in the state.

In a letter addressed to Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, State Health Minister Niranjan Pujari highlighted the critical shortage of anti-TB drugs since February 2023, adversely affecting the NTEP’s execution in Odisha. The NTEP is a pivotal initiative aimed at early detection, treatment, and prevention of tuberculosis.

“The National TB Elimination Programme is a flagship programme, and Odisha has been diligently implementing all interventions, yielding positive outcomes. However, the inadequate supply of anti-TB drugs from the Central TB Division since February 2023 has severely hindered programme implementation in the state,” the letter stated.

Despite repeated indentations by the state authorities for the required drugs, the supply from the Government of India has been grossly insufficient. Efforts to procure the drugs locally have also proven futile due to their unavailability in the local market, further exacerbating the situation.

The Odisha Health Minister underscored that the matter has been consistently raised with the Government of India through various forums, including meetings, discussions, and formal letters from the Director of Public Health, Odisha, and the Mission Director of the National Health Mission, Odisha.

“In light of these circumstances, urgent intervention is requested to address the shortage of TB drugs in the state. It is imperative that appropriate steps are taken for the timely supply of these essential drugs to Odisha,” Pujari emphasized.