
Amrita Hospital, Kochi, hosted the state-level task force meeting of National Tuberculosis Prevention Program, unveiled pioneering measures to elevate tuberculosis patient care in medical colleges across the state.
The meeting, inaugurated by the Principal Secretary of the Health Department, Muhammad Haneesh, marked a pivotal decision to allocate a specific percentage of beds for tuberculosis patients in medical colleges across all districts. Stressing the pivotal role of awareness in the tuberculosis elimination efforts, Muhammad Haneesh underscored the importance of educating patients about the disease and ensuring the availability of top-notch treatment facilities. He also emphasized the need for continued research in this field to enhance our understanding and treatment strategies for tuberculosis.
Addressing the gathering, State-level Director of the National Health Mission, K. Jeevan Babu, affirmed the commitment to advancing tuberculosis patient care. Key contributors to the meeting included State Director of Medical Education Dr. Thomas Mathew, State TB Officer Dr. Rajaram, National Tuberculosis Prevention Program Zonal Task Force Chairman Dr. Sajeev Nair, State Task Force Chairman Dr. Davis Paul, Vice Chairman Dr. K Akhilesh, District Medical Officer Dr. K. Sakina, District TB Officer Dr. Anand Mohan, Medical Superintendent of Amrita Hospital, Kochi K V Beena, and Dr. Asmita Mehta, Head of the Pulmonary Medicine Department at Amrita Hospital, Kochi.
A comprehensive evaluation during the meeting revealed the discontinuation of post-Covid TB treatment wards in many medical colleges and district hospitals. Recognizing the urgent need for at least three TB centers in each district to ensure holistic patient care, the task force resolved to bridge this gap. Furthermore, steps were initiated to establish TB diagnosis and treatment centers in Idukki, Konni Medical Colleges, and Palakkad District Hospital, supplementing the existing nine medical colleges.