Maharashtra to accord high importance to treatment of TB patients

Tuberculosis will be given high importance and additional funds along with medicines will be made available to those suffering from the disease in Maharashtra, the state government said on Wednesday.

"We currently have all the equipment and medicines needed to treat TB. When someone suffers from this disease, one needs sustained medication. When medicines are given free of cost, people at times do not value the medicines.

"But, under the 'mission mode' of the state government, we will give additional funds and provide extra apparatus (overall facilities) for those suffering from this disease," Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said in his reply to a question in the Legislative Council.

A total of 31,207 cases of suspected TB have been detected in Mumbai, out of which 3,020 are multi-drug resistant and 256 cases are of extremely drug resistant TB, Fadnavis informed the House. Raising the issue during the Question Hour, NCP MLC Vidya Chavan had asked if the state government was considering to provide any special funds and apparatus for those suffering from TB. 

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