The Sewri TB hospital has registered a record 50 drug-resistant patients in 45 days on OPD basis, for treatment with the bedaquiline drug. Earlier, as per the norms, drug-resistant tuberculosis patients had to stay in hospitals for the first 15 days after being prescribed bedaquiline, for health analysis. But thanks to the new rule, TB patients can get this expensive treatment on Outpatient Department (OPD) basis.

Boon for patients
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has decided that these patients can be administered the medicine on OPD basis. This decision has come as a boon for patients from the lower income strata, especially daily-wage earners, who resisted being admitted. Last year, when the OPD facility was absent, the hospital could register only 50 patients.