Context

Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has launched pilot project for transport of sputum specimen for Tuberculosis (TB) Diagnosis by utilising services of Department of Post in New Delhi.

About

• It is launched with an intention of creating a tuberculosis free nation.
• It is developed by National Informatics Centre (NIC) in association with Central TB Division (CTD), Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.
• Health Ministry also launched web-based application of Revised National Tuberculosis Control Program (RNTCP), Nikshay Version 2.0, with better user interface and data structures.
  1. NIKSHAY is web based solution for effectively monitoring of TB patients under Revised National Tuberculosis Programme (RNTCP).

Tuberculosis:

• TB is a disease caused by bacteria “Mycobacterium tuberculosis” that most often affect the lungs.
• It spreads from person to person through the air and is the second biggest killer disease worldwide next only to HIV/AIDS.
• India accounts for about a quarter of the global TB burden.

Significance

• A significant proportion of TB patients in India are not tested for their symptoms because specimen does not reach laboratory due to non-availability of specimen transport mechanisms.
• Transport of collected specimen spares patients from travelling to reference laboratory.
• Prompt transport of specimen followed by detailed testing will enable appropriate management of TB patients and reduced disease transmission.
• The learning from this pilot project experience will be useful for adaptation of specimen transport mechanism through Postal Department across the country.