Shorter Oral TB Regimens Found Cost-Effective
ICMR study shows six-month treatments improve outcomes and cut costs
- ICMR study backs six-month all-oral regimens for drug-resistant TB
- BPaL regimen found more effective and cost-saving
- BPaLM also highly cost-effective with minimal extra spending
- Findings support faster progress under TB elimination programme
GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 12th Feb: Shorter six-month all-oral treatment regimens for multidrug-resistant and rifampicin-resistant tuberculosis are cost-effective and deliver improved health outcomes in India, according to a new study published in the Indian Journal of Medical Research.
The economic evaluation, conducted by the ICMR–National Institute for Research in Tuberculosis (ICMR-NIRT), compared bedaquiline-based regimens—BPaL (bedaquiline, pretomanid and linezolid) and BPaLM (with moxifloxacin)—with existing shorter and longer treatment regimens used under the National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP).
The study found that the BPaL regimen is both more effective and cost-saving. For every additional Quality Adjusted Life Year gained, the health system spends ₹379 less per patient compared to the standard regimen, indicating better outcomes at lower costs.
The BPaLM regimen was also found to be highly cost-effective, with an additional expenditure of only ₹37 per patient for each extra Quality Adjusted Life Year compared to the standard regimen. Both regimens showed lower or comparable overall healthcare costs, including medicines, hospital visits, and follow-up care.
Drug-resistant tuberculosis remains a major challenge due to long treatment durations, adverse effects, and high costs. The study noted that shorter all-oral regimens can improve treatment adherence, reduce patient morbidity, and allow faster return to normal life, while easing the burden on the health system.
By cutting treatment duration from nine to eighteen months or more to just six months, the regimens align with national priorities to optimise resources and accelerate progress towards tuberculosis elimination.
The study concluded that BPaL-based regimens are likely to be cost-saving or highly cost-effective and may be considered for wider adoption under the NTEP to strengthen India’s response to drug-resistant TB.
