The Government aims to eradicate tuberculosis (TB) by 2025 according to the national strategic plan. However, non-cooperation by private doctors in notifying TB patients treated by them poses a major challenge. The Maharashtra state Public Health Department thus intends to start taking action against such private doctors who have failed to notify about TB patients treated by them.

Official estimates suggest that more than half of all TB patients treated in India seek care in the private sector, but case notifications from this sector lag far behind those in the government hospitals.

TB has been a notifiable disease since 2012 and healthcare providers are required to notify all TB cases to the authorities in a prescribed format. In order to make things easier, the Government of India introduced a web-enabled application, NIKSHAY, in 2012 to facilitate the monitoring of universal access to TB patients’ data by the concerned people. Private doctors across the length and breadth of the state of Maharashtra have also been asked to notify TB patients through NIKSHAY since 2016.

State TB Officer, Dr Padmaja Jogewar stated that strict action will now be taken against the doctors who have failed to notify about TB patients treated by them, despite all the requests.

Action can be taken against the errant doctors under Section 269 of the Indian Penal Code, Negligent act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life, and Section 270 of the Indian Penal Code, Malignant act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life. A punishment with a fine or imprisonment for up to 2 years, or both may be given.

All district level officers across Maharashtra have been asked to issue notices to such doctors. Action will be taken after the response received from them, mentioned Dr Jogewar.

Dr Sanjay Darade, District TB Officer, Pune, stated that they had written to the Indian Medical Association (IMA), following which more doctors started notifying the TB patients. He further mentioned that private doctors in rural areas notify them about the cases diagnosed, treated, and the development in their health status; however, the number of cases notified by private doctors from the city is limited.

Dr Darade said that the list will be finalized soon and notices will be issued accordingly. (Pune Mirror)