Government approves additional allocation of ₹ 1040 crores to Ni-Kshay Poshan Yojana as nutritional support for all TB patients
In a landmark decision, the ministry of health and family welfare has decided to double the monthly nutritional support for TB patients to Rs 1000 per month. The support, aimed at ensuring TB patients get sufficient nutritious food to withstand the ravages of the disease and the long course of antibiotics needed to fight it.
The government has also unveiled a scheme to provide energy dense supplements to underweight TB patients. Announcing these measures, health minister J P Nadda said that till date, ₹3,202 crores have been disbursed to 1.13 crore beneficiaries through Direct Benefit Transfer under the Nikshay Poshan Yojana – the programme for monthly nutritional support to TB patients.
“The government has also decided to introduce energy dense nutrition supplementation for all patients with BMI<18.5 and to permit expansion of scope & coverage of Ni-Kshay Mitra initiative under Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (PMTBMBA) to the family members (household contacts) of TB patients,” Nadda said.
All TB patients will now receive a nutritional support of ₹ 3,000 to ₹ 6,000 under Ni-Kshay Poshan Yojana (NPY). While enhancement of NPY support will benefit all 25 lakh TB patients in a year, introduction of Energy Dense Nutritional Supplementation (EDNS) would cover approximately 12 lakh underweight patients (BMI less than 18.5 kg/m2 at the time of diagnosis). EDNS would be provided to all eligible patients for the first two months of their treatment. “This move will cost the Government of India approximately an additional ₹1,040 crores to be shared between the center and states on 60:40 basis”, Nadda said.
India has one of the highest burdens of tuberculosis in the world accounting for 27% of the global load. “India has the highest burden of TB with two deaths occuring every three minutes from tuberculosis (TB). But these deaths can be prevented. With proper care and treatment, TB patients can be cured and the battle against TB can be won,” says the World Health Organisation. India has also committed to eradicating the disease by 2025, five years ahead of the global deadline.
