The Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme (RNTCP) was established in India in 1992 using the DOTS strategy recommended by the WHO to address the shortcomings of the previous National Tuberculosis Programme. RNTCP aims to reduce mortality and morbidity from TB and cut transmission by achieving 85% cure rates among new TB patients and 70% case detection using microscopy. It operates through a network of District Tuberculosis Centers and is fully funded by the central government with support from international organizations. The program follows the DOTS strategy of direct observation of TB treatment to help ensure adherence and cure.

1. REVISED NATIONAL
TUBERCULOSIS CONTROL
PROGRAMME (RNTCP)

2. INTRODUCTION:
• THE NATIONAL TB PROGRAMME (NTP) WAS STARTED IN 1962 FOR TB CONTROL
IN INDIA, THIS PROGRAMME WAS NOT ABLE TO GIVE EXPECTED RESULTS IN
INDIA.
• NTP WAS STARTED WITH FOLLOWING OBJECTIVES:
1) LONG TERM OBJECTIVES: REDUCTION THE NUMBER OF PATIENTS OF TB IN THE
COMMUNITY.
2) SHORT TERM OBJECTIVES:
o IDENTIFYING THE MAXIMUM NUMBER OF TUBERCULOSIS PATIENTS AMONG ALL
THOSE PATIENTS AMONG ALL THOSE PATIENTS WHO ARE VISITING THE
HOSPITAL/HEALTH CENTERS.
o GIVING BCG VACCINATION TO BABIES.
o USING ALL THE MEDICAL INSTITUTIONS OF THE COUNTRY, BY INTEGRATING

3. CONTD.
• TUBERCULOSIS CONTROL PROGRAMME IS IMPLEMENTED BY
DISTRICT TUBERCULOSIS CENTERS.
• DISTRICT TUBERCULOSIS PROGRAMME IS ASSISTED BY STATE
ASSOCIATION OF TUBERCULOSIS CONTROL AND ASSOCIATION.
• UNDER THIS PROGRAMME FREE SERVICES ARE PROVIDED TO
COMMUNITY AND MEDICINES ARE GIVEN TO THE VOLUNTARY
ORGANIZATION.
• 447 DISTRICT TUBERCULOSIS CENTERS ARE ESTABLISHED IN
VARIOUS DISTRICTS OF THE COUNTRY.
• OTHER THAN DISTRICT TUBERCULOSIS CENTERS, 330
TUBERCULOSIS CLINICS AND 47,600 TUBERCULOSIS BEDS ARE
ALSO AVAILABLE

4. RNTCP:
• THE NTP WAS REVIEWED IN 1992.
• AS A RESULT OF THE REVIEW, THE DOTS STRATEGY WAS ADOPTED
IN INDIA UNDER THE REVISED NATIONAL TB CONTROL
PROGRAMME.
• THE PROGRAMME WAS IMPLEMENTED IN A PHASE MANNER AND BY
24TH MARCH 2006, ENTIRE COUNTRY WAS COVERED UNDER THE
PROGRAMME.
GOALS:
• GOAL IS TO DECREASE THE MORTALITY AND MORBIDITY RATE DUE
TO TB AND CUT DOWN THE CHAIN OF TRANSMISSION OF

5. OBJECTIVES:
TO ACHIEVE AND MAINTAIN:
• CURE RATE OF ATLEAST 85% AMONG NEWLY DETECTED TB CASES
• CASE DETECTION OF ATLEAST 70% SUSPECTS USING, SPUTUM
MICROSCOPY IN NEW POSITIVE TB CASES IN THE COMMUNITY.
• EMPOWERING THE CENTRAL AND STATE TUBERCULOSIS CELLS AND
ESTABLISHING SUPERVISORY UNITS AT SUB-DISTRICT LEVEL.
• ENSURING THE SUPPLY OF ANTI-TB MEDICINES AND OTHER
EQUIPMENTS.

6. CONTD.
• PROPER TRAINING OF ALL CATEGORIES OF STAFF.
• BRINING IMPROVEMENT IN NGO’S INVOLVEMENT IN AWARENESS
REGARDING TB IN COMMUNITY.
• ENCOURAGING THE RESEARCH WORK IN FIELD OF TB.

7. FUNDING:
• 100% CENTRAL GOVERNMENT SPONSORED.
• THE PROGRAMME IS ASSISTED BY WORLD BANK AND DEPARTMENT
FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT (DFID).
• OTHER SUPPORTING AGENCIES ARE:
oGLOBAL TB DRUG FACILITY (GDF)
oGLOBAL FUND TO FIGHT AIDS, TB, MALARIA (GFATM)
oUNITED STATES AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
(USAID)
oDANISH INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT AGENCY (DANIDA)

8. DOTS:
• WHO RECOMMENDED THE SPECIAL STRATEGY OF RNTCP, DIRECTLY
OBSERVED TREATMENT SHORT COURSE (DOTS) WAS LAUNCHED IN
MARCH 1997 AND WAS IMPLEMENTED IN A PHASED MANNER.
• IT HAS THREE FEATURES:
oAPPROPRIATE THOUGHT/ IDEA
oSUPERVISION AND ENCOURAGEMENT BY HEALTH WORKER OR
OTHERS
oMONITORING THE LEVEL OF DISEASE

9. CONTD.
• IN DOTS SYSTEM IMPORTANCE HAS BEEN GIVEN TO POLITICAL
COMMITMENT, UNINTERRUPTED DRUG SUPPLY, DIRECTLY
OBSERVED TREATMENT, GOOD QUALITY SPUTUM MICROSCOPY
AND ACCOUNTABILITY.
• COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION IS NECESSARY FOR SUCCESS OF
DOTS, IT ENSURE THE HIGH CURE RATES.
• DOTS IS GIVEN BY PERIPHERAL HEALTH STAFF SUCH AS
FHW/ANM/MPW OR THROUGH COMMUNITY ORIENTED PERSONS
ASHA/TEACHERS/POSTMAN/SOCIAL VOLUNTEERS ETC.
• AFTER INITIATION OF DOT, TREATMENT SUCCESS RATES HAVE
TRIPLED FROM 25% IN THE PRE-RNTCP ERA TO 86% PRESENTLY
AND TB DEATHS HAVE BEEN COMES FROM 29% TO 4%. (ANNUAL
REPORT 2009-10 MOHFW).