More than half of the tuberculosis (TB) prescriptions issued outside India’s government-run National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (NTEP) fail to follow recommended treatment guidelines, according to the country’s first nationwide analysis of TB prescription practices in the private and other non-government healthcare sectors. The study estimates that nearly 20.6 lakh incorrect TB prescriptions are issued every year—equivalent to around five faulty prescriptions every minute—raising concerns over treatment quality, drug resistance and patient outcomes.
Nationwide Analysis Reveals Widespread Prescription Errors
The research found that 53.3% of anti-tuberculosis prescriptions issued in non-programmatic healthcare settings do not comply with standard TB treatment protocols. Titled “The PRAMAN India Study: First Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Anti-Tuberculosis Prescription Practices in Non-Programmatic Settings in India,” the research was recently published in the Indian Journal of Tuberculosis, the official journal of the Tuberculosis Association of India. The findings highlight significant gaps in TB management outside the government programme, where a large number of patients continue to seek treatment.
Researchers Review Three Decades of Data
To assess prescription practices, researchers conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of 34 studies carried out between 1991 and 2024.
The analysis covered 3,834 TB prescriptions from healthcare facilities across India.
Using the estimated number of TB patients treated in the private sector, the researchers projected that approximately 20.6 lakh inappropriate anti-TB prescriptions are written annually. According to the study, such prescribing practices can increase the risk of treatment failure, prolonged disease transmission and the emergence of drug-resistant tuberculosis.
IGGMC Nagpur Led the Research
The study was led by Dr. Gyanshankar Mishra, Associate Professor in the Department of Respiratory Medicine at Indira Gandhi Government Medical College (IGGMC), Nagpur, who served as the lead and corresponding author.
The research team also included:
Dr. Jasmin Mulani, Medical Officer, Health and Family Welfare Training Centre, Nagpur
Dr. Radha Munje, Professor and Head, Department of Respiratory Medicine, IGGMC
Dr. Rupak Singla, Consultant and former Head, Department of Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases at the National Institute of Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases (NITRD), New Delhi
The collaboration brings together experts in respiratory medicine and tuberculosis care to evaluate prescription practices across India’s non-government healthcare sector.
Findings Highlight Need for Better TB Treatment Practices
The study underscores the importance of improving adherence to standard TB treatment guidelines, particularly in private healthcare settings where many patients receive diagnosis and treatment. The researchers suggest that strengthening physician training, promoting guideline-based prescribing and improving integration between private healthcare providers and the National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (NTEP) could help reduce inappropriate prescriptions and support India’s goal of eliminating tuberculosis. As reported by thetimesofindia.com, with millions of TB patients seeking care outside government programmes, ensuring accurate and guideline-compliant TB prescriptions will be critical to improving treatment outcomes and curbing the spread of drug-resistant tuberculosis.