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The Hindu
The Hindu
Technology
R. Prasad

Eight months on, States wait for 3HP TB preventive drug

Eight months after Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the pan-India rollout of a shorter TB Preventive Treatment (TPT) in March 2023 called the 3HP — once-weekly isoniazid-rifapentine for 12 weeks — States are yet to receive the 3HP combination drug from the Central TB Division. Tamil Nadu and Kerala have already begun using 3HP for TB preventive treatment despite not receiving the drug supply. 

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Currently, all household contacts of a person who has been recently diagnosed with pulmonary TB are tested for TB disease and those who do not have TB disease but have been infected with the bacteria are offered treatment to prevent the progression from latent infection to TB disease. Daily dose of isoniazid for six months, which is the current treatment protocol, translates to 180 pills. In contrast, the 3HP regimen of one combination drug a week for three months translates to 12 pills in all.

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