State plans a dedicated research centre on drug resistance

To curb the rise in cases of extensively drug resistant TB (XXDR-TB) in the city, the state medical education department plans to set up a dedicated research centre on drug resistance at Sir JJ Hospital.

This research centre will be part of the hospital’s new super-specialty department.

“The rise in drugs resistance cases is a serious issue, which need to be addressed immediately.  It is the right time to open the dedicated research centre that will work on this subject and give the guidelines to the medical fraternity,” said DP Sawant, minister of state for medical education. 

Health experts pointed out that Maharashtra spends crores of rupees on medical education and research, but does not have an advanced research centre on drug resistance facilities.

“The plan to set up a research centre is a good move as scientists working on this issue will be able to help the medical fraternity find a remedy. Such centres already exist in some of the states,” said Dr Abhay Chowdhary, director of the Haffkine Institute.

According to experts, every hospital should have its own antibiotic policy and should implement them seriously as it has been found out that most doctors “randomly prescribe antibiotics” to patients.
Dr Jalil Parkar, senior chest physician at Lilavati Hospital, said the government should have thought of setting up a research centre much earlier.

“Patients come from the different parts of the country to Mumbai for treatment. We should have such a centre as it will help the doctors,” he said.