Media reports claiming shortage of anti-TB medicines are False, Motivated & Misleading

Recently, certain media reports have alleged a scarcity of anti-TB drugs in India. It’s crucial to clarify that these reports are not only untrue but also appear to be driven by ulterior motives, with the intention to mislead the public. For drug-sensitive tuberculosis, the standard treatment regimen encompasses two months of four drugs (Isoniazid, Rifampicin, Ethambutol, and Pyrazinamide) followed by two months of three drugs (Isoniazid, Rifampicin, and Ethambutol), all available as Fixed-Dose Combinations (FDCs). Presently, there is an ample supply of these drugs, with stocks sustaining for over six months. Moreover, procurement for the fiscal year 2024-25 is already in progress.

In the case of multi-drug resistant (MDR) TB, the regimen generally entails four months of seven drugs, followed by five months of four drugs, with the possibility of including cycloserine and linezolid for about 30% of patients. It’s important to note that patients requiring MDR TB medicines constitute a mere 2.5% of the total TB-affected population, and even for this group, there is no reported shortage.

The procurement, storage, and distribution of anti-TB drugs, among other materials, are meticulously managed at the central level under the National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP). In exceptional cases, states are advised to procure certain drugs locally for a limited period to ensure uninterrupted patient care.

Presently, the national stockpile includes more than 15 months’ worth of Moxifloxacin 400mg and Pyridoxine under NTEP. Additionally, Delamanid 50 mg and Clofazimine 100 mg were procured in August 2023 and distributed to all states and UTs. Furthermore, a purchase order for an additional 8 lakh quantity of Delamanid 50 mg tablets was issued on 23.09.2023.

In addition to the above, purchase orders were placed for the supply of 3 FDC(P), Linezolid-600mg & Cap Cycloserine-250 mg in August 2023. Pre-Dispatch Inspection (PDI) and Quality Test reports have been completed, and these drugs are now being dispatched to the states.

The current stock levels of these drugs at the national level as of today (30.09.2023) are as follows:

• Cycloserine -250 mg: 2,73,598
• Linezolid – 600 mg: 7,69,883
• Delamanid – 50 mg: 10,31,770
• Clofazimine – 100 mg: 45,26,200
• Moxifloxacin – 400 mg: 2,72,17,061
• Pyridoxine: 2,72,24,272

Efforts to ensure the availability of these essential anti-TB drugs are ongoing, including regular assessments of stock levels at various levels, from central warehouses to peripheral health institutes.

Therefore, the claims made in the recent media reports are not only erroneous and misleading but also fail to present an accurate representation of the available stock of anti-TB drugs in the country. #AntiTBDrugs #HealthcareInIndia #TBControl #PublicHealth #MedicalMisinformation