KMC seeks corporate support for TB-Free Kolkata mission

Kolkata Municipal Corporation ( KMC) has urged experts, civil society representatives, corporate houses and other major stakeholders to make elimination of tuberculosis (TB), a priority. The move is part of KMC’s strategy to create a TB-Mukto Kolkata (TB-Free Kolkata), spearheaded by key decision-makers from private healthcare providers, civil society organisation, donors and government agencies.

After implementing comprehensive measures to combat vector-borne diseases in the city, the KMC’s health department will now focus primarily on TB, which kills one person per minute in India on an average. “We have taken the initiative to to increase case detection and notification by way of an Active Case Finding drive. We plan to send KMC health workers on a door-to-door search for TB patients across the city,” said Dr Monirul Islam Molla, chief medical health officer, KMC.

Molla announced the civic body’s commitment to eliminating TB along with the Tuberculosis Health Action Learning Initiative, a project funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and strategic partner of KMC. The main objective of the joint initiative is to increase investment in elimination of tuberculosis.

An appeal was made to corporate houses to invest in the anti-TB cause as the disease is inextricably linked with poverty. More than 50% of annual income is lost, on an average, due to TB-related costs. Loss of income, coupled with high out-of-pocket expenses, pushes an estimated 100 million people into the poverty trap each year.

“We urge corporates to invest in communication tools so that we can create awareness, overhaul DOTS centres in order to cater to patients from all sections of society, and financially support those who suffer catastrophic out-of-pocket expenditure,” said Dr Tapan Kumar Mukherjee, honorary advisor (health) to the KMC.

The conference 'Investing in Tuberculosis' held in Kolkata today was attended by industry leaders and key government personalities. Echoing the call for greater investment in TB, Dr Sandip Roy from West Bengal health department, said: " “Integrating public and private care is crucial in TB control and elimination. Even the National Strategic Plan (2017-2025) proposes monetary reimbursement for private sector health care providers for notifying patients.”

“India," according to Dr Kunal Sarkar, senior vice-chairman of Medica Superspecialty Hospital, "has not demanded health care in the way that it should have. TB cannot be separated from the depths of desperation in which the slums of India exist. The mission 'TB-Mukto Kolkata' must ensure increased investment in combating the disease as we cannot separate medicine from human development.”