Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme: Indian perspective

The global tuberculosis programme has promoted the revision of National Tuberculosis Programme by strengthening the focus on Directly Observed Treatment Short-course (DOTS). National Tuberculosis Control Programme (NTCP) which was established in 1962 had less than 30 per cent treatment completion. Based on an in-depth review of the programme by a high level committee in 1992, a Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme (RNTCP) was envisaged with a view to achieve a cure rate of at least 85 per cent amongst newly detected sputum positive cases under DOTS. By December 1999, 130 million of population had been covered in the country under DOTS. However, there are many challenges that are required to be met before RNTCP can become a success story in our country.