The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has won the Stop TB Kochon Prize for excellence in TB research and development. The $65,000 Prize is awarded annually by Stop TB Partnership to individuals and/or organizations that have made a significant contribution to combating TB. The ICMR emerged the winner from amongst 18 nominations. The 2017 Kochon Prize was awarded … Continue reading ICMR wins the 2017 Kochon Prize for TB research
Dr. Madhukar Pai
India sets an example in subsidised TB diagnosis
There is a bright spot in an otherwise gloomy TB scenario in India. Of the 12 high-burden countries where the private sector is a major player in providing health care, the Indian private sector offers the cheapest price for the WHO-approved Xpert MTB/RIF, a molecular test for diagnosing TB. India also has the highest number … Continue reading India sets an example in subsidised TB diagnosis
A new test promises better diagnosis of TB in children
With bacteriological diagnosis of TB (via sputum samples) in children, particularly in those aged below five years, being riddled with problems, scientists are looking at alternative methods that do not rely on sputum samples. A proof-of-concept study published recently in The New England Journal of Medicine shows promise. The sample used was blood. Suzanne T. … Continue reading A new test promises better diagnosis of TB in children
IPAQT: subsidised Xpert TB test in private labs gets popular
The number of labs/private hospitals in the country offering the WHO-approved tests like GeneXpert, Line Probe Assay (LPA) for diagnosing TB disease at a subsidised price has reached 54. There are over 10,000 collection centres spread across the country. In eight months since the novel initiative — Improving Access to Affordable & Quality TB Tests … Continue reading IPAQT: subsidised Xpert TB test in private labs gets popular
‘Very few children in India are diagnosed and treated for MDR-TB’
“A child with TB [is] as likely as an adult with TB to have MDR-TB [multi-drug resistant TB],” notes the WHO Global Tuberculosis Report 2013. that was released last month. “It is therefore essential that the identification of MDR-TB in children be strengthened.” WHO did not stop at that. “Efforts should be made to … Continue reading ‘Very few children in India are diagnosed and treated for MDR-TB’
TB: how many young children are wrongly diagnosed as disease-free?
India’s Revised National TB Control Programme (RNTCP) estimates that children comprise about 12 per cent of the total TB caseload in the country. But in all probability, 12 per cent may be an underestimation of the actual contribution. A July 2011 study undertaken in Krishna district of Andhra Pradesh on 116 children below six years … Continue reading TB: how many young children are wrongly diagnosed as disease-free?
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