Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme (RNTCP)

The Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme (RNTCP) was started in the year 1997 and implemented in Tamil Nadu since 2002. RNTCP covers population of 790 lakhs and includes 35 District TB centres and 461 TB units. Tamil Nadu is the first state to implement nutritional support through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) under Nikshay Poshan Yojana in the country from April 2018.

It aims at diagnosing and caring for TB cases both in the public as well as in the private sector. The Drug sensitive is treated using Fixed Drug Combinations through Directly Observed Treatment (DOT) strategy.

All patients registered are now being monitored online using the web portal Nikshay. In 2018, 104055 were notified through this portal. Drug logistics are monitored and managed using Nikshay Aushadhi. Notification of cases by private sector is also ensured and so far 22,960 private health facilities are registered in Nikshay.

There are about 1984 Designated Microscopy Centres and 2 Intermediate Reference Laboratory across the state. Active case finding (ACF) was conducted in all the districts of Tamil Nadu using two CBNAAT vans.

The State has also implemented Programmatic Management of Drug Resistant TB services since 2009 which aims at early diagnosis of Drug resistance TB cases and treating them with appropriate regimen. Drug Resistant TB cases are managed at 7 Nodal Drug Resistant TB centre and 24 District Drug Resistant TB centre. Specialised diagnostic labs include 2 C&DST and 2 liquid culture (MGIT). New TB drugs namely Bedaquiline for Adult TB patients and Delamanid for pediatric TB patients have been introduced in our state for the first time in the country for DR- TB patients. 276 eligible patients being treated with Bedaquiline.

All presumptive TB cases are being screened for HIV and all HIV-TB co infected patients are started TB treatment and referred to ART centres. In 2018, 3047 were HIV-TB co infected cases.

Any child contact between the ages of 6 months and 6 years is given Isoniazid Propylactic Therapy to decrease the risk.

Government has decided to give Rs. 500 monthly for all TB patients taking treatment in both public and private sectors.

In 2018, the project “Joint Effort for Elimination of TB” was launched to engage the private service providers to notify the cases. Patient Provider Support Agency (PPSA) “ Zero TB Chennai Project - 2023” has been covered in 21 districts.

As the incidence of TB cases in Tamil Nadu is showing a steady decrease, “TB free Tamil Nadu- 2025”strategy in all districts based on the four pillars of national strategic plan namely “ Detect- Treat- Prevent- Build”(DTPB)has been initiated.