The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved the proposal of Ministry of Health & Family Welfare for scaling up services for diagnosis, care and management of Drug Resistant Tuberculosis under Revised National TB Control Programme (RNTCP) with assistance from Global Fund at an estimated cost of Rs.649.02 crore. The upgradation envisages procurement of second line drugs, scaling up of laboratory services and provision of technical assistance. With the scaling up of diagnosis, care and management services for Multi Drug Resistant TB (MDR-TB), the Revised National TB Control Programme (RNTCP) shall establish 43 state of art laboratories using latest diagnostic technologies throughout the country. The project shall also scale up care and management of MDR-TB in the country resulting in the initiation of treatment of 55,000 cases. The project shall continue till September, 2015.

Source: Press Information Bureau
Date: March 3, 2011