In 2006, a six-month survey, conducted across 4 zones in Chennai yielded us data that forced us to take a serious and closer look at a sector that had been previously ignored by health-care organisations and the government in being included in the RNTCP’s efforts to curb TB - pharmacists.
In a country where many people tend to visit their pharmacist when they have a cough, instead of even doctors, private pharmacies hold the potential to become points of contact where people showing symptoms of TB were correctly referred to testing centres. Not surprisingly, in a period of 8 months, 60 participating pharmacies were able to refer 101 cases and a startling 50% of them tested positive for TB.
Although our efforts since then were sustained by workshops, one-on-one visits to new pharmacists and direct intervention, since 2013, with support from the Eli Lilly Foundation, we have charted out a detailed 5-year plan to expand our working model to include pharmacies from all areas in Chennai and Thanjavur district.