Postal dept to ship TB sputum in Himachal

Shimla : The Department of Posts will help the state Himachal Health Department to speed up the investigation of sputum of patients for Tuberculosis.

This was stated by the Mission Director National Health Mission, Nipun Jindal here today. He said a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between the National Health Mission and the Department of Posts in this regard.

Tuberculosis Officer Dr. Gopal Beri, signed the Memorandum  of Understanding on behalf of the Health Department.

He said the sputum samples for investigation of Tuberculosis shall be submitted by the health staff to the nearest Post office, well packed as per the Biomedical Protocol and delivered to the intended lab within the stipulated time. Earlier samples transport from designated microscopic centers to molecular testing sites and drug susceptibility testing sites was being performed through human couriers and other community workers or hospital working staff.

Jindal said that this will be a major milestone for timely and streamlined delivery of the sputum samples especially keeping in view the anticipated increase during the ongoing active case finding campaign ‘Him Suraksha’

Since, diagnosis of Tuberculosis is paramount for notification, treatment and breaking the chain of transmission, the State has also expanded the diagnostic net with operationalisation of ten designated microscopic centres in the Ayurvedic institutions and four DMCs (Designated Microscopic Centers) in various jails in the last six months, in addition to 218 DMCs already functional.