Corporation to give free vouchers for TB screening

The special council meeting of the civic body has passed a resolution granting permission to distribute the free vouchers.

“There are only few X-ray machines available in the Corporation and government hospitals. Highly vulnerable TB patients must be prioritised for TB screening and diagnosis. X-ray can be used to identify patients in the high-risk group,” the resolution said. The high-risk TB patients would be given vouchers, which then can be used in selected private labs for X-ray screening. “The new proposal will be piloted first in North Chennai and then extended to other two regions,” a corporation official said.

There are 1,233 TB patients registered for treatment in the North region. “Assuming 4 vouchers for each patient, a total of 4,932 X-ray screenings vouchers have to be issued. Vouchers will be issued to the patients at their houses,” the official added. Explaining the process, the official said private labs should run the tests on the patients by receiving the vouchers and hand over the X-ray report to the medical officer or programme officer directly. Payments for the X-rays would be based on the total number of vouchers redeemed at the private labs. “Payment to the labs will be made at the end of every 15 days. The cost of one voucher will be Rs 150,” the official said, adding that they would soon invite quotations.