PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/Dehradun
In the year 2025, a total of 1,441 tuberculosis (TB) patients were treated at the department of Respiratory Medicine at Government Doon Medical College (GDMC) Hospital. These included 872 patients with pulmonary TB (PTB), 449 patients with extrapulmonary TB and 120 paediatric patients.
According to officials, 57 patients with multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) were also treated with 24 of these patients placed on the shorter BPaLM treatment regimen. MDR-TB arises mainly due to several factors including incomplete or irregular intake of medications, incorrect drug combinations, discontinuation of treatment, inadequate prior treatment for TB and exposure to an infected MDR patient. Such conditions can prolong the treatment duration, increase the risk of side effects and heighten the risk of community transmission of the infection.
Officials also said that under the leadership of Dr Anurag Aggarwal, head of the department of Respiratory Medicine, the department is not only treating complex MDR cases but also conducting regular academic activities for postgraduate students. The principal of the GMDC hospital Dr Geeta Jain commended the team’s accomplishments in managing MDR-TB and implementing preventive strategies. With this, the hospital administration also spreads the message that despite the challenges posed by drug-resistant TB, significant steps are being taken toward TB elimination through scientific treatment, prevention strategies and social cooperation.
