What is the BPaLM Regimen?

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About BPaLM Regimen:

It is a new treatment regimen against multi-drug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB).
It was introduced by the Union Health Ministry under its National TB Elimination Program (NTEP).
Composition: The regimen combines four drugs—Bedaquiline, Pretomanid, Linezolid, and optionally Moxifloxacin.
This regimen includes a new anti-TB drug called Pretomanid, which was earlier approved and licensed for use in India by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO).
Efficacy:
- The BPaLM regimen is a safer and more effective treatment option compared to traditional MDR-TB treatments.
- It is an all-oral regimen with a low overall pill burden, which makes it patient-friendly.
- It can cure drug-resistant TB in just six months, compared to the previous treatment duration of up to 20 months, and is associated with fewer side effects.

National TB Elimination Program (NTEP):

It is a public health initiative of the Government of India that organizes the country’s tuberculosis elimination efforts.
It has set an ambitious goal of eradicating TB by 2025.
NTEP is a centrally sponsored scheme implemented under the aegis of the National Health Mission with resource sharing between the State Governments and the Central Government.
It is based on the daily DOTS (Directly Observed Treatment with short-course chemotherapy) strategy.
- The DOTS strategy ensures that infectious TB patients are diagnosed and treated effectively till cure, by ensuring availability of the full course of drugs and a system for monitoring patientcompliance to the treatment.
The program provides various free-of-cost, quality tuberculosis diagnosis and treatment services across the country.
NI-KSHAY Portal: NI-KSHAY (Ni=End, Kshay=TB) is the web enabled patient management system for TB control under the National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (NTEP).

Q1: What is the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO)?

It is the National Regulatory Authority (NRA) of India for the medical devices industry under the provisions of the Drugs & Cosmetics Rules. It works under the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare. Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) is the head of the CDSCO.

Source: Government nod to 6-month therapy for drugresistant TB