Plan to take on drug-resistant tuberculosis

New Delhi:Improving diagnosis and treatment of drug-resistant tuberculosis and strengthening the quality of preventive care are some key measure being taken by the government to check the spread of the disease, an official said Sunday.

Under the revised national tuberculosis control programme, the government has envisaged implementing these steps as part of the 12th five-year plan, a health and family welfare ministry official said. He said the government planned to provide quality preventive care to vulnerable groups like slum dwellers and tribals. The focus would also be on expanding the diagnosis and treatment of drug-resistant tuberculosis and promoting research on the disease. According to the WHO, 320,000 tuberculosis patients died in 2010 in India. The estimated death rate per 100,000 people due to tuberculosis declined from 38 in 1990 to 27 in 2010 and further down to 24 in 2011. ANI