Anti-TB drugs: Union Minister of State for Health Anupriya Patel told the Rajya Sabha that there is no shortage of essential anti-tuberculosis drugs, including Rifampicin and Ethambutol, in central and State warehouses.
Responding to a query on recent availability concerns, tender delays and steps to ensure uninterrupted supply under the National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (NTEP), Patel said the programme is being implemented across the country under the National Health Mission.
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She said a rate contract model has been established for all anti-TB drugs, including newer and shorter regimen medicines, for 2025–27, with adequate buffer stocks built into the system.
The minister listed measures to strengthen the supply chain, including timely submission of indents to the procurement agency, real-time tracking of stock and utilisation through the Drugs and Vaccines Distribution Management System (DVDMS), and regular physical verification of inventories by State, district and national teams during field visits.
She added that coordination with suppliers has been strengthened to ensure the timely supply of medicines as well as necessary diagnostics, reagents and kits.
India continues to shoulder the world’s largest tuberculosis burden. The WHO’s Global TB Report 2025 estimates the country recorded about 21.7 lakh TB cases and around 3 lakh deaths in 2024.
