DR-TB Centres and Network

Drug-resistant Tuberculosis Centres (DR-TBCs) are specialized centres for the clinical management of Drug-resistant TB (DR-TB). ​

Each DR-TBC needs to have established a DR-TB committee to carry out the clinical management of DR-TB patients.​

DR-TBCs can be established in the public sector where appropriate facilities are available. ​

• The DR-TBC can also be established in the private sector on mutually agreeable terms and conditions based on the Guidance Document on Partnerships, 2019.

District level:  There are District Drug-resistant TB Centres (DDR-TBCs) to manage DR-TB patients. ​These centres will function under the guidance of Nodal Drug-resistant TB Centres (NDR-TBCs). Almost every district has a mandate to establish a DDR-TBC in India. There are around 620 DDR-TBCs established in the country.​

State/ Regional level: At the state/ regional/ division level, there are NDR-TBCs to manage seriously ill DR-TB patients. ​There are 173 NDR-TBCs established in India.​

Decentralized DR-TB services through an expanded network of DR-TB centres has helped the National TB Elimination Program in improving access to DR-TB services and has also resulted in improved DR-TB treatment linkage and better management of DR-TB patients.

Resources

• Guidelines for Programmatic Management of Drug-resistant TB in India, 2021.