NEWS – A study has revealed that Integrating the National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (NTEP) with Karnataka’s Ayushman Bharat Arogya Karnataka scheme has had a positive impact on the overall management of tuberculosis patients

STUDY BY

• By The Lancet Regional Health–Southeast Asia journal
• Result of an impact assessment study by officials from the Commissionerate of Health and Family Welfare Services, Karnataka, in collaboration with ESIC Medical College and the Suvarna Arogya Suraksha Trust, Bengaluru; and the Centre for Digital Health, Artificial Intelligence, Research and Training, Basaveshwara Medical College and Hospital, Chitradurga.

SITUATION

• High TB Burden in India
  • India has the highest burden of TB cases globally.
  • Aims to achieve WHO’s 2030 goal to ‘End TB’ by 2025.
• TB Situation in Karnataka
  • Karnataka notified 80.4% of the expected 1,00,000 TB patients.
  • Data from India TB Report 2023.
• Financial Challenges in TB Treatment
  • Hospitalisation costs are a major expense in TB treatment.
  • These costs may be unaffordable for families below the poverty line (BPL) without government intervention.

HIGHLIGHT OF THE STUDY

• Overview
  • Utilization of 43 treatment packages for TB-related cases under ‘Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana Arogya Karnataka’ (AB-PMJAY-ArK scheme)
  • Provides financial coverage up to Rs 5 lakh per year for BPL card holders and Rs 1.5 lakh per year for APL card holders.
• Study Conducted
  • State health department conducted a study between January 2021 and December 2022.
  • Aimed to assess the impact of the scheme on reducing patients’ out-of-pocket expenditure.
• Research Scope
  • Researchers analyzed 7,450 tuberculosis patients receiving treatment under the AB-PMJAY-ArK scheme across the state.
  • Focus on understanding treatment outcomes and cost implications for patients.
• Health Facility Admissions
  • Over 95% of the patients analyzed were admitted at government health facilities.
  • Indicates a high utilization rate of government healthcare services among TB patients
  • A total of 7,230 patients in the analysis were identified as BPL card holders
• Gender Distribution
  • More than 64% of the patients analyzed were men.
  • Reflects a gender disparity in TB cases or possibly higher healthcare-seeking behavior among men.
• Age Distribution
  • Nearly 30% of the patients undergoing treatment were aged between 46 and 60 years.
  • Indicates a significant portion of middle-aged individuals affected by TB.
• Scheme Cost Coverage
  • The scheme provided a minimum cost coverage of USD 124.5 per patient, ensuring financial relief for patients undergoing TB treatment.