India: Second National Tuberculosis Control Project

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The Second National Tuberculosis Control Program Project for India aims (1) to achieve the global targets of 70 percent case detection and 85 percent cure rate in 100 percent of the districts; and (2) in those the zones where Directly Observed Treatment, short course (DOTS) has been under implementation for five or more years, to cause the incidence of smear-positive Tuberculosis (TB) to start to decline. There are two project components. Component 1 consolidates the Revised National Tuberculosis Control Program (RNTCP) services. This output aims at sustaining the quality of public TB services across the country. Special emphasis will now be given to improving laboratory services, supervision and monitoring, continuous operations research, advocacy, and health communication and strengthening institutional capacity to implement the program. Component 2 expands RNTCP outreach to target special groups. This output aims to maximize the inclusion o f TB patients under DOTS. With the expansion of DOTS to all districts in the country the program will now implement appropriate strategies to ensure that services reach (1) the poor, tribal people and other 'hard to reach groups'; (2) patients who consult non-RNTCP health service providers; (3) patients infected with HIV/AIDS; (4) children and adolescents; and (5) multi-drug resistant TB cases.