A review of the miracle drug — Bedaquiline — for multi-drug resistant TB patients, has revealed that its inclusion in the treatment procedure has increased the recovery rate from 40 per cent to 70 per cent over the past three years. The BMC had introduced this life-saving drug in 2018 and so far it has been given to 4,273 TB patients in Mumbai.  

“Earlier, before we introduced Bedaquiline in our treatment regime, the recovery rate of multi-drug resistant TB (MDR-TB) patients was between 40 and 50 per cent, which now stands at 70 per cent. It has proved that by following the prescribed treatment course along with having a nutritious diet, TB can be cured,” said Dr Praneeta Tipre, head of Mumbai TB Control Room.