A DR-TB patent showing her TB medication, India 2016.
Issue brief |

Treating drug-sensitive TB in India

Photograph by Atul Loke

India's Revised National TB Control Programme (RNTCP) has been providing treatment for TB since 1997, however, the treatment protocols being used in the national program are not consistent with current scientific evidence nor with World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations. For example, while RNTCP has taken some positive steps towards adopting a daily fixed dose combination (FDC) regimen for drug-sensitive TB treatment, more concrete steps need to be taken towards implementing the recommended policy changes.

This document provides an overview of the evidence base for implementing FDCs into a daily treatment regimen, as well as recommendations for steps to accelerate the implementation of India’s new treatment protocols in line with WHO guidelines and best practices.