VHAI launches free X-ray facility for OST patients

Aparna Banerji

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, July 8

Jalandhar has become the first district in the state where the Intensified Tuberculosis Case Finding Pilot Project was launched among OST (opioid substitution therapy) patients today.

Launched at the Civil Hospital, the pilot project is aimed at diagnosing dormant TB among patients on opioid substitution therapy.

The Voluntary Health Association of India (VHAI), New Delhi, has arranged for free digital X-ray facility of each registered OST patient at the OST Centre, Jalandhar.

For this purpose, two private health centres — Shree Diagnostics Centre and Rattan Multi-Specialty Hospital have also extended their services. Notably, while the CB Net test to determine TB is compulsory among registered HIV positive patients, the same has not been done for those on OST due to which TB was going unchecked in many cases. But, with the free diagnosis, things might change and reportage will increase. District TB officer Dr Naresh Bathla said, “Quiet like diabetes, the symptoms of TB among OST patients are suppressed due to which it is difficult to trace out TB in them. They can’t cough because it is suppressed. But with the free X-rays and diagnosis available, we hope of early diagnosis of TB among them through this project, which shall ensure no suspect is missed out.”

While, presently Jalandhar is the only district where the pilot project has been started – after the first phase of the project (six months), a report on the findings of the project will be submitted to the Health Department based on which the project may also be extended further.

In consultation with STO, DTO and CMO, the district has been selected for the pilot project where VHAI is currently implementing Project Axshya. In order to co-ordinate this activity between OST clinic, the DMC and with CXR facility, a volunteer will be placed under the project for about 21 months up till Dec 2017. Speaking on the occasion, Dr Bhatnagar said VHAI had been working to eradicate tuberculosis under Project Axshya throughout the nation and this was a unique effort to reach out to OST patients, which was being launched for the first time in India.

He said the main purpose of the project was to detect dormant TB cases at an early stage. After successful implementation, the project will be extended in other districts also, he added. Today, five digital chest X-rays of OST patients were taken and out of them, one patient was further evaluated for sputum examination, considering suspected TB problem. On the basis of the pilot project involving OST patients, a recently conducted study from Ukraine (presented in 45th World Lung Conference by Zahedul Islam), highlighted 18 per cent TB patients identified among 500 OST clients screened.

Other studies emphasise increased risk of latent TB infection (LTBI) and MDR (multi-drug resistant) TB among OST patients.

Treatment management is complicated with core TB drug – rifampicin known to be associated with withdrawal symptoms.