The Ministry of Health has approved a new treatment plan for drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB) in India. The BEPaLM plan, which includes four drugs — bedaquiline, pretomanid, linezolid, and moxifloxacin — has been recognized as a safer, more effective, and faster treatment option compared to the previous multi-drug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) treatment methods, the ministry announced on Friday (September 6, 2024).
Accelerating the Fight Against TB in India
The ministry reported that the country is working towards the goal of TB elimination by 2025, which is five years ahead of the global target. Under this effort, the ministry has implemented the BEPaLM plan for MDR-TB under its National TB Elimination Program. This plan includes a new anti-TB drug, pretomanid, combined with bedaquiline and linezolid (with or without moxifloxacin). Pretomanid has already been approved and licensed for use in India by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO).
While traditional treatments can take up to 20 months and have severe side effects, the BEPaLM plan can treat drug-resistant TB in just six months with a high success rate. The 75,000 drug-resistant TB patients in India will now benefit from this shorter treatment plan. Additionally, there will be overall cost savings along with other benefits.
India boasts the world’s largest TB laboratory network with 7,767 rapid molecular testing facilities and 87 culture and drug sensitivity testing laboratories, the ministry added.
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