Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme: current scenario.

Tuberculosis is considered to be 100% curable if adequate drug regimen is followed, still in developing countries it is becoming leading cause of death. The Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme (RNTCP) came into existence by formulating and adopting the DOTS (direct observation treatment--short course). By March 2006 the whole country was covered by RNTCP. Since 1993 RNTCP has made rapid strides, so the case fatality reduced from 29% to 4% in new smear positive cases. The emergence of multidrug resistance tuberculosis (MDR-TB) has become a significant public health problem. The Government of India is planning to implement DOTS plus by 2010 all over the country and by 2012 access under RNTCP for laboratory based quality assured MDR-TB diagnosis and treatment. Tuberculosis along with HIV and MDR/XDR TB is further worsening the scenario. To counter this menace, every medical practitioner's co-operation is important.