I warmly welcome you all distinguished professors and professional colleagues to this workshop on RNTCP. I would like to inform all the delegates that the central government has taken a keen interest in TB activities and TB control is being given the highest priority in this Ministry’s agenda. We are not content to implement effective TB control services only in public health institutions. It is at least as critical that all major providers of care are part and parcel of the programme. With this background, medical colleges have a very important role to play.

Since 1962, India has endeavored to control TB in a systematic way. Infrastructure was built at district level and integrated with PHIs. A good infrastructure was established, but unfortunately the disease burden could not be reduced as envisaged and treatment completion rates continued to be less than 40%.

Starting from 2nd October 1993, RNTCP based on the WHO-recommended DOTS strategy was pilot tested in the country with an aim to cure 85% of new sputum positive cases and to detect at least 70% of these cases.