Under the National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP), the treatment outcome definitions of Drug-susceptible TB (DS-TB) and Drug-resistant TB (DR-TB) have been aligned in recent times. However, the treatment outcome is declared at different time points for certain outcomes (e.g., cured/ treatment completed) since the duration of DR-TB treatment is longer when compared to DS-TB treatment. 

The World Health Organization (WHO) defines palliative care as an approach that improves the quality of life of patients and their families facing the problems associated with life-threatening illnesses, through prevention and relief of suffering by means of early identification, impeccable assessment, and treatment of pain and other physical, psychosocial and spiritual problems.

The goal of such treatment is to improve the quality of life for both the patient and their family. 

Shift from Shorter to Longer Drug-resistant TB (DR-TB) Regimen

Reasons for regimen shift: Resistance, tolerability, availability and emergence of exclusion criteria.

The inventory of Cartridge Based Nucleic Acid Amplification Test (CBNAAT) cartridges and Truenat chips supplied by the centre or procured by the states/ districts should be managed through Nikshay Aushadhi (see the figure below).

Figure: Inventory Management of NAAT Cartridges/ Chips in Nikshay Aushadhi Portal; Source: Guidelines for PMDT, India, 2021, p142.

The reconstitution of Bedaquiline (Bdq) bottle should be done at the State Drug Store (SDS).

In case of lost to follow-up/ death/ transferred-out/ treatment stopped patients, Bdq bottle shall be brought back from the treatment centre to the Health Facility (HF) to the TB Unit (TU) to the District TB Centre (DTC) within the shortest possible time.