Two Pre Extensive Drug Resistant (XDR) TB patients, a male and a female, from Chamba district were on June 27 put on latest TB drug Bedaquiline, in Tanda Medical college for the first time.

The treatment, costing Rs 22 lakhs each, is being given free under National TB Control programme. Dr Bhanu Awasthi, Principal, Tanda Medical College told UNI that the two patients were first identified and then put to 23 prescribed tests and following expert DOT Plus Site committee's approval, the two patients were today put on Bedaquiline medicine.

He said that Tanda Medical College has become first after IGMC Shimla to put Pre Extensive Drug Resistant TB patients on this treatment. IGMC has already put two patients on this treatment. He said that more XDR TB patients have been identified and they were under going the prescribed 23 tests for this treatment and after the DOT Plus Site committee grants its approval they too will be put on this treatment.

Dr Gurdharshan Gupta Medical Superintendent told UNI that TMC has stock of latest TB drug Bedaquiline at least for five patients. He said that two patients, who were put on Bedaquiline treatment, will remain admitted in the medical college for two weeks for observation. He said that it was an achievement for the college to provide drug Bedaquiline as a relief to XRD TB patients of this region.