New Delhi: Accelerating the efforts to combat Tuberculosis (TB) in the country, Union Health Minister J P Nadda on Monday launched Cartridge Based Nucleic Acid Amplification Test (CBNAAT) machines for the quick diagnosis of TB within two hours.
The CBNAAT is a revolutionary rapid molecular test which detects Mycobacterium tuberculosis and rifampicin drug resistance, simultaneously. This test is fully automated and provides results within two hours.
At present 121 CBNAAT machine are functioning and five hundred more such machines were launched today.
Speaking on the occasion, Nadda said this will help in treating patients of TB patients promptly, adding that the process of fighting the deadly disease is continuous, hence there can be no dilution and do diversion.
Nadda also launched a new anti-TB drug Bedaquiline, which is a new anti-TB drug for treatment of Multi-drug-resistant tuberculosis.
This drug is indicated for use in the treatment of drug-resistant TB. The drug will be made available in six public hospitals in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Guwahati and Ahmedabad.
The Health Minister said government is aggressively taking initiatives to fight against TB. (ANI)