Dimapur: Private healthcare practitioners in Nagaland have been urged to follow government-prescribed protocols and the latest treatment guidelines for tuberculosis (TB) amid concerns over the state’s continuing caseload.
The National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (NTEP) organised a sensitisation programme for private practitioners in Kohima to familiarise them with updates in TB prevention, diagnosis and treatment, according to an official report issued on Monday.
Addressing the programme, Kohima Chief Medical Officer T Yetovi Tuccu stressed the importance of keeping healthcare providers updated on treatment protocols and strengthening coordination between public and private healthcare services to advance TB elimination efforts.
Tuccu noted that many patients seek treatment from private clinics, hospitals and individual practitioners, making their participation important in the management of the disease. He urged all providers to follow government-prescribed guidelines rather than adopt independent treatment approaches, warning that inconsistent practices could have serious consequences for patients and public health.
The programme also highlighted the need to counsel patients, particularly those from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, on completing their treatment. Financial difficulties and barriers to healthcare access could lead some patients to discontinue medication after experiencing initial relief, increasing the risk of relapse and drug-resistant TB, Tuccu observed.
Private practitioners were urged to explain the importance of completing the full course of treatment and refer patients requiring additional assistance to government healthcare facilities.