Inaugural meeting of the national TB Project Committee

16th January 2005

The inaugural meeting of the National TB Project Committee in Mumbai on 14th January 2005 brought together the President of the Indian Pharmaceutical Association (IPA) and IPA Cummunity Division representatives, the General Secretary of the All India Organisation of Chemists & Druggists, representatives from the IPA Student Division, clinicians from the Mumbai District TB Control Society and consumer representatives.

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Pharmacists and Project Committee meet to set patient inclusion criteria

24th February 2005

During the lead-up to the launch of the Fact Card, pharmacists participating in the project will work with the Committee to develop patient selection criteria.  Each pharmacist will work with 10 TB patients in his local community.  Lack of patient monitoring by any health professional during treatment, is of concern to pharmacists, especially given the increase of multi-drug resistant forms of the disease.

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Pharmacist training day a success

7th March 2005

The project training day was attended by 57 enthusiastic community pharmacists from Mumbai.  The training day, conducted on 6th March, included presentations from tuberculosis researchers and clinicians.  A consumer, who had successfully been treated for TB, also presented on his experiences and expectations relating to the management of his condition.  The project pharmacists discussed the implementation of the project protocols and the use of the TB Fact Cards in community pharmacy environments. 

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TB Fact Card Launched

24th March 2005

The TB Fact Card was launched by Mr Devinder Pal, CPA Coucillor for India, on World Stop TB Day.  The launch was attended TB specialists from the Mahashstra State Department of Health, President of the Indian Pharmaceutical Association, Mr Subodh Priolkar, pharmacists in Mumbai and students studying to become pharmacists.   The launch attracted wide media interest, and included both television and newspaper coverage. 

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Pharmacists monitor 120 patients on treatment

7th May, 2005

Approximately 50 community pharmacists are monitoring the treatment of 120 patients recruited to the project.  Using the TB Fact Card and a leaflet on nutritional requirements during treatment, pharmacists have answered patient concerns about therapy.  Posters from CPA’s World Stop TB Day campaign are on display in project pharmacies and pharmacists report increased consumer requests for information on TB.

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Students support patients and assist pharmacists

3rd June, 2005

Sixty students from six pharmacy colleges in the Mumbai area are enrolled in the TB project to assist community pharmacists with patient follow-up and support.  In early April, students attended training sessions to increase their knowledge of TB transmission, treatment and prevention.  They also received briefing on the use of the TB Fact Card and Patient Record Cards.  Following her presentation on the Role of the Pharmacist in Health Care, National Project Co-ordinator, Mrs Manjiri Gharat, familiarised students with project protocols.  Students began their regular visits to project pharmacies in early June.

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Nutritionist advises on low-cost diet for TB patients

12th June, 2005

Mrs Shubhangini A Joshi, nutritionist/lecturer from SNDT Women’s University in Mumbai, has prepared a leaflet on dietary information for TB patients.  The leaflet is being distributed through pharmacies taking part in the CPA/IPSF/IPA project in Mumbai. Mrs Joshi recommends a diet high in carbohydrates, protein, vitamins and minerals, with moderate fat and adequate fluid intake.  Her advice to TB patients is to eat small meals frequently rather than larger meals at the usual intervals.  Mrs Joshi’s recommended diet is accessible on this website under Education & Resources.

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CPA & IPSF VISIT PROJECT PHARMACIES IN MUMBAI

Mr John Bell, Secretary of CPA and Mr Simon Bell, Project Liaison Officer from IPSF, visited Mumbai during September. They met with many of the project pharmacists on site, inspecting project records and talking with pharmacists and their assistants about their experience with the project. Both John and Simon made presentations at meetings of pharmacists and students and praised all participants for their commitment and enthusiasm for the project.

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Project meeting in Cairo

20th Feburary 2006

Representatives from CPA, IPSF and the Indian Pharmaceutical Association (IPA) took the opportunity to meet during the Congress of the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) in Cairo in September 2005.

National project co-ordinator, Mrs Manjiri Gharat, brought the associations up-to-date on project activities. Despite the hindrance of major flooding during the monsoon season, which affected some of the pharmacies participating in the project, regular monitoring of patient treatment continued. About 150 patients are registered with the project to receive purpose designed services to aid adherence to medication treatment.

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Project enters Evaluation Phase

20th Feburary 2006

Data collected at 60 pharmacies in the project zones in Mumbai is currently being evaluated. Project pharmacists have been providing healthcare services to TB patients during their six months course of treatment. Information on medications, regular weight checks, nutrition and dietary information, treatment monitoring and patient counselling have been offered to all patients participating in the project, to help support their adherence to the long-term treatment.

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Indian Project Evaluation

12th July, 2006

Survey results revealed that project pharmacists were very positive about their role in providing long-term treatment and care to TB patients enrolled in the project. Pharmacists believed they had a valuable public health role in promoting community awareness of tuberculosis; particularly in reducing the stigma and discrimination often associated with the disease. Pharmacists reported that counselling patients on their medication use lead to greater patient involvement in treatment and helped adherence.

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