Lok Sabha Question No. 1058 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-07-21
Subject: TB Research
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: MALLIKARJUN  KHARGE

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH RESEARCH

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1058 TO BE ANSWERED ON 21 ST JULY, 2017

## TB RESEARCH

## 1058. SHRI MALLIKARJUN KHARGE:

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether it is a fact that India was once at the forefront of TB research with studies done at the erstwhile TB Research Centre, Chennai shaping global policy;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the present status of India's role in research for TB vaccines, diagnostics and drugs;
- (c) the budgetary allocation for TB research in the country during the financial year 2017 - 18; and
- (d) whether there is a provision for TB research/drugs/diagnostics under the new Make in India initiative and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SMT. ANUPRIYA PATEL )

(a) & (b) : Yes, the erstwhile TB Research Centre, Chennai, now known as the National Ins for Research in Tub erculosis (NIRT), is an internationally recognised Institution for TB rese It is a Supranational Reference Laboratory and a WHO collaborating centre for TB research training.  An  International  Centre  for  Excellence  in  Research  (ICER)  was  establishe d  at  the Centre in collaboration with the National Institute of Health (NIH).  The research stud led to change in the policy of national programme on TB.

The 'India TB Research Consortium' has been set up to develop new tools for tackling TB in a 'mission mode'.  Under the above Consortium, Tata trusts have given a seed grant of Rs.20 crore for two years  aiming at better diagnostics for all forms of TB, shorter and safer TB/MDR - TB, efficacious preventive vaccine and better implementation strategie s to reach to TB affected population.  MDR detections kit (TruenatRif) has been developed under the Rev National Tuberculosis Control Program (RNTCP).  Drug trials are also being funded and Institute is involved in TB Vaccine Research as well.

- (c) : The budgetary allocation for the financial year 2017 - 18, for Research Programme at NIRT, Chennai and the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)  Headquarters, is Rs.54.65 cr and Rs.40 crore, respectively.

As per the information provided by the Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme, the allocation for External Quality Assessment (EQA) activities, including research acti Rs.3293.50 lakh.

(d)  :  A  collaborative  TB  Research  Project  is  being  undertaken  by  the  National  Instit Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), Mohali under the aegis of the Department Pharmaceuticals.  The Target specific New Drug Discovery for Anti Tubercul ar Agents, an inter -departmental  collaborative  project,  aims  at  discovery  of  high  affinity  ligands  that developed into efficacious and less toxic drugs against TB.

The  joint  programme  has  been  initiated  by  the  ICMR  with  the  Department  of  Bi otechnology  and  Ministry  of  Health  &  Family  Welfare  to  promote  and  commercialize  th indigenous TB diagnostic tests developed by Indian Scientists/companies.  The research pr for  development  of  the  indigenous  tools  are  supported  through  extramural  a nd  intramural programmes.