Senate Body For Ensuring TB Patients Treatment

Senate Sub-Standing Committee on National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination on Tuesday urged the officials concerned to take effective measures to ensure treatment of tuberculosis patients in the country

ISLAMABAD,(UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 07th Nov, 2017 ) :Senate Sub-Standing Committee on National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination on Tuesday urged the officials concerned to take effective measures to ensure treatment of tuberculosis patients in the country.

The committee meeting which was chaired by the convener of committee Senator Dr Ghous Muhammad Khan Niazi also directed them to start an awareness campaign to educate people about the prevention and treatment aspects of the disease.

Manager TB Control Programme Dr Nasir Mehmood apprised the committee that every year an increase of 5,18,000 TB patients has been reported in the country. Out of these patients 3,66,000 patients get registration while 154,000 couldn't get registration as TB patient.

He added Pakistan stands at five in 30 TB affected countries. He said that during last year 93 percent TB patients have been treated by the government. He added Pakistan regularly receives an amount of Rs 143 million from Global Fund for treatment of TB patients.

He added out of total amount, Rs 88 million are spent for purchase of medicine while the government also spends amount from the Global Funds for salaries of 1200 employees of TB Control Programme.

He informed the committee that presently 1,300 TB control centers are functioning across the country where 174 machines are available for checking of TB disease. He added 412 more machines will be provided to every district of the country by June 2018.