Top institutes join hands to train doctors in treating TB

The ‘Manage tuberculosis – an online certification course for doctors’ is a course launched by the National Programme on Technology Enhanced Learning (NPTEL) — a joint initiative of the IITs and IISc — along with the National Institute of Research in Tuberculosis (NIRT), to catalyse the ‘End-TB Strategy’ and the ‘TB-Free Chennai’ initiative.

The eight-week course, which was prepared in consultation with TB management experts, covers epidemiology, diagnosis, treatment, prevention and control of TB as a public health problem. It is planned keeping in mind the busy work schedule of doctors. It consists of videos of lectures, case scenario discussions and demonstrations of laboratory procedures.

Such a course is the need of the hour, said Madhusudhan Reddy, Deputy Commissioner (Health), Greater Chennai Corporation, while launching the initiative. 

“The course is also aimed at the paramedical staff involved in TB control as the disease continues to be a major public health problem in much of the developing world - with India alone found to have nearly one-fourth of the global TB patients and an estimated 4.8 lakh lives are lost every year due to this illness,” added the official.

The End-TB strategy of the WHO seeks to achieve 95 per cent reduction in TB mortality and 90 per cent reduction in TB incidence by the year 2035. 

The National Strategic Plan of the Revised National TB Control Programme has a more ambitious target of eliminating TB by 2025.