CHENNAI: Health minister C Vijayabaskar on Tuesday launched a shorter regimen for Multidrug-Resistant Tuberculosis (MDR-TB) across the State at the Government Hospital of Thoracic Medicine, Tambaram Sanatorium here. This is to enable patients to complete the regimen.At present, MDR-TB patients have to be on an 18 to 24-month prolonged regimen. This has been cut down to nine to 12 months in order to make the patients complete the course.
Because of the prolonged period, patients stop medication in the middle. Eventually, they develop all drugs resistant condition, which is a serious problem in tackling MDR-TB, said officials.According to a health department press release, the minister launched the shorter regimen programme by giving away the drugs to MDR-TB patients. He also flagged off a mobile digital X-Ray for Kancheepuram district.A medical team from the mobile digital X-Ray will travel across Kancheepuram district and screen people for TB.