What is the BPaLM Regimen?

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