27/03/2018
*Latest Gazette Notification on Tuberculosis*
*Ques. What is the latest Gazette Notification on Tuberculosis about ?*
Ans. The latest gazette notification dated 19th March, 2018 by Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Govt of India is to ensure proper tuberculosis diagnosis and its management in patients and their contacts and to reduce tuberculosis transmission and further to address the problems of emergence and spread of drug resistant-Tuberculosis.
*Ques. What does the said notification want from Doctors ?*
Ans. Through the notification, the govt of India wants to collect complete information of all tuberculosis patients from Doctors and Chemists.
*Ques. To whom is it applicable / who has to notify a case of Tuberculosis ?*
Ans. Every clinical establishment as defined under the Clinical Establishment Act, 2010 (C.E.A.). In short, every Doctor of any pathy of medicine (allopathy/AYUSH), Laboratory and Chemist running a Pharmacy.
*Ques. Is the notification applicable to the entire country / all States ?*
Ans. Yes.
*Ques. Which type of patients have to be notified ?*
Ans. All patients who are diagnosed to be suffering from Tuberculosis or initiated on anti-tubercular drugs, whether by clinical, microbiological or radiological diagnosis.
*Ques. Do I have to notify all cases of Tuberculosis- whether diagnosed by me or by anyone else ?
Do I have to notify all cases of Tuberculosis- whether on treatment from me or on treatment by anyone else ?
Do I have to notify cases of Tuberculosis who are already on treatment ?*
Ans. Yes.
*Ques. Do I have to notify cases of Tuberculosis who have fully completed their treatment and are in consultation with me for other medical issues ?*
Ans. The notification is silent on this aspect. A careful reading of the notification leads to a logical conclusion that it needs to be reported. Although, a clarification is needed from the MOH&FW regarding the issue that whether cases of past history of tuberculosis need to be reported or not.
*Ques. Can a patient self-notify ?*
Ans. Yes. The patients are encouraged to self-notify themselves as well as the details of their treating physicians to the govt of India.
*Ques. How and where do I notify ?*
Ans. Can be reported electronically at the website- https://nikshay.gov.in through Annexure-II for Doctors. (Annexure-I is for medical laboratories, Annexure-III is for Chemists) Or, by hard copy to District Health Officer or Chief Medical Officer of a District and Municipal Health Officer of urban local bodies.
You should receive a SMS on completing the process of online reporting.
You need a govt-issued I.D. of the patient (mandatory) for the reporting process.
*Ques. What happens if I fail to notify ?*
Ans. One could be liable for committing an offence under Section 269 and Section 270 of the Indian Penal Code.
Section 269 IPC- Negligent act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life- Whoever unlawfully or negligently does any act which is, and which he knows or has reason to believe to be, likely to spread the infection of any disease dangerous to life, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine, or with both.
Section 270 IPC- Malignant act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life- Whoever malignantly does any act which is, and which he knows or has reason to believe to be, likely to spread the infection of any disease dangerous to life, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both.
*Ques. What happens after such notification to the government ?*
Ans. The information on tuberculosis notification received by Public Health Staff, shall be used only for extending the care and support, take appropriate public health action; including financial and non-financial incentives to patients, like free drugs and diagnostics, screening for co-morbidities, drug susceptibility testing, information technology based treatment adherence support system for improving quality care, etc., and providing feedback to the respective treating medical practitioner: provided that the confidentiality of the individual identity of the tuberculosis patients shall be maintained.
*Dr Gaurav Aggarwal*
Medicolegal Consultant &
Ex-Professor (Forensic Medicine)
Delhi.
Mob: 09811154655
Email: drgauravagg@gmail.com