Tuberculosis: District hospitals short of vital medicine

Patients complain authorities have failed to implement card system

ISLAMABAD: With health devolved to the provinces, patients from various districts have complained that there is a shortage of Tuberculosis medicine at hospitals surrounding the twin cities.

After the 18th Amendment, under which health was devolved to provinces, district authorities are primarily responsible for planning, financing, implementing, and monitoring TB care services in their respective districts.

Pakistan currently ranks fifth amongst countries with highest burden of Tuberculosis alongside the fourth highest burden of Drug Resistant TB globally. Around 420,000 new TB cases are reported annually.

Patients in the districts surrounding Rawalpindi say that the government has failed to implement a card issuance system for TB patients containing important administrative and technical details about each patient and the stage of treatment they are on.

Similarly, the district authorities are responsible for recording and reporting of every TB suspect and patient while care delivery system has been integrated within district health care services so that continuing care can be provided close to the patient’s home.

When contacted, an official of National TB Control Program said that the program was working in collaboration with all provincial and regional TB control programs.

He added the NTP endorses and implements WHO recommended Stop TB Strategy for effective control of this menace.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 12^th, 2016.