Experts during a panel discussion, put a spotlight on the stigma, challenges, and potential solutions in mitigating the impact of this silent killer
In an effort to raise public awareness about the devastating health, social and economic consequences of TB in the state of Maharashtra, HaystackAnalytics, a Mumbai-based health-tech startup, supported by the Department of Science & Technology, healthcare veterans like Dr Velumani, and private players such as GE Healthcare and Intel India startup program, has organised a panel discussion along with leading pulmonologists to step up efforts to end the TB epidemic in India.
In order to educate the masses on how Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) can emerge as the revolutionary one-stop solution for the diagnosis and treatment of tuberculosis in India, HaystackAnalytics brought together some eminent pulmonologists like Dr Nikhil Sarangdhar, Member Central Committee, TB association of India and Master National Trainer, National TB elimination program, Mumbai, Maharashtra, Dr Anchit Bhatnagar, Assistant Professor in Terna Speciality Hospital & Research Centre, Navi Mumbai, a Consultant Pulmonologist in Ashirwad Hospital, Navi Mumbai, Dr Pankaj Bang, Consultant Chest Physician, and Intensivist, DNB (Chest), FCCP (USA), Mumbai, Maharashtra, Dr Vikas Oswal, a Mumbai-based pulmonologist along with Dr Anirvan Chatterjee, Co-Founder, and CEO of HaystackAnalytics, Mumbai, Maharashtra. The objective of the discussion was to put a spotlight on the stigma, challenges, and potential solutions in mitigating the impact of this silent killer.
During the discussion, Dr Sarangdhar updated the gathering regarding the present scenario of tuberculosis in the post-pandemic era and the target of tuberculosis elimination. “Since 2019, Mumbai has witnessed an increase in TB diagnosis among those in the 15-36 years of age. However, due to COVID and the pandemic, there was an overall reluctance seen in people to approach healthcare facilities and the stigma associated with respiratory symptoms. In addition, over half of all patients with TB approach the private sector for their initial diagnosis and treatment. It is plausible that economic hardships, diversion of the healthcare workforce to Covid, and difficulty accessing resources without mandatory RT-PCR reports, all contributed to delayed health-seeking, and consequently, delays in treatment initiation, resulting in deaths. Nonetheless, there have been many initiatives taken to mitigate TB in Maharashtra, and recently over 1,000 Indians have adopted nearly 7,000 patients suffering from Tuberculosis (TB) India to provide vocational, diagnostic, and nutritional support for faster recovery. Maharashtra tops the chart with the most number of adoptions across the country.”
Further, Dr Bang added, “However, considering the diversity and variation in the burden of disease, there is a need for active engagement of non-traditional stakeholders such as corporations, civil society, young people, community-based organizations (CBOs), and community members, all of which can play a critical role in winning the battle against TB. Technology has been used extensively for surveillance, diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring of TB in Maharashtra, such one diagnosis we are currently pursuing is HaystackAnalytics’s Whole genome testing which can give us results faster, ensuring patients get the right combination of medicines at the earliest. In the end, it is crucial for everyone to work together towards the mission to eliminate TB from India.”
Dr Oswal adds, “WGS test is the future. A single test for TB diagnosis and treatment. WGS test gives sensitivity information of newer drugs for TB. No other test gives you information on these drugs. Nothing satisfactorily like it. WGS test will give an account of your exact lineage of Mycobacterium Tuberculosis. WGS test is fantastic; we are keen and look forward for this test to roll out for TB patients at the earliest.”
Harnessing the power of next-gen medtech like genome sequencing, with the government and fraternity’s support, to contribute to helping to achieve a TB Free India by 2025. Dr Chatterjee said, “At HaystackAnalytics we aim at innovating and enabling technologies that bridge the gaps and challenges in the current diagnostics ecosystem. Whole Genome sequencing can detect TB and predict DST profiles at a much faster rate, demonstrating the future potential to reduce time-to-diagnosis & appropriate treatment for TB. In light of the rising number of cases in a densely populated metropolis like Mumbai, multidrug-resistant TB rates are alarmingly high. These statistics are driven in part by crowded living conditions, but also partly because, until now, many locals were not aware of the treatment as well as the number of tests that are now available to accurately diagnose and get enough TB patients into treatment. It is crucial that more people are made aware of the catastrophic effects of TB on their health, society, and economy. Starting from the root- identifying people with tuberculosis symptoms and supporting across the care continuum for positive patient outcomes.”