Odisha Govt Seeks Urgent Supply Of TB Drugs From Centre

Bhubaneswar: Odisha government has sought urgent supply of TB drugs from the Centre for implementation of the National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP).

In a letter to Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare Mansukh Mandaviya on Monday, Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Health & Family Welfare Niranjan Pujari said Odisha has been implementing all the interventions under NTEP for early detection, treatment and prevention of tuberculosis and achieved good results in the past.

“Since February 2023, there has been inadequate supply of anti-TB drugs from the Central TB Division, which has affected implementation of the programme in the State,” Pujari said in the letter.

He further said the state authorities have indented the drugs as per their requirement from time to time, but its supply has been grossly inadequate. An attempt was made by the state to procure the drugs locally but it was not available in the market, he added.

Stating that the matter has been brought to the notice of the Centre in various meetings, discussions and through letters from Director, Public Health and Mission Director, National Health Mission, Pujari requested the
Union Minister to look into the matter urgently and take appropriate steps for early supply of TB drugs to the date.