General stocks and materials

Information Education and Communication (IEC) Materials

• The purpose of the IEC materials is to create awareness and disseminate information about the disease (signs and symptoms) diagnosis, and treatment to increase accessibility and utilisation of services among the general population.
• IEC material also encourages the build-up of health-seeking behaviour among the masses in keeping with the focus on promotive and preventive health.
• Under IEC, posters, flyers, leaflets, brochures, booklets, etc. are printed and circulated. It is the responsibility of the state to print IEC material in various languages and distribute it among the general population.
• The surplus material is stored at the State Drug Store (SDS) for further distribution as and when required.

Printed Materials

As per the National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP) norms, the districts must use several forms and registers to record the diagnostic and treatment activities. In addition to these, the districts should maintain an adequate supply of printed material for the latest programmatic guidelines. These include the following:

Forms

• NTEP request for examination of biological specimens: Used to request tests such as sputum smear microscopy, Nucleic Acid Amplification Test (NAAT), Line Probe Assay (LPA), culture and Drug Susceptibility Test (DST).
• Treatment card (TB and Drug-resistant TB (DR-TB)): This card contains important information about a patient, such as their name, age, sex and address; type of disease; regimen prescribed; duration of treatment; etc.
• Patient’s identity card (TB and DR-TB patients): The front part of the ID card has patient information, name and address of the TB Unit (TU)/ district and treatment details of the patient including disease classification, type of patient, sputum results, category and information on the date of starting treatment. The back portion of the ID card has the results of the follow-up sputum examination, appointment dates for visits for drug administration and treatment outcome.
• Referral form for treatment (TB and DR-TB): Used when referring patients for treatment to other peripheral health institutions.
• Transfer form: This form is to be used when transferring registered patients on treatment from one reporting unit to another.
• TB notification forms

Registers

• Tuberculosis laboratory register: Used to record the results of sputum smear examinations at the microscopy centres
• Culture and DST laboratory register: Used to record the results of NAAT, LPA, culture and drug sensitivity testing
• Tuberculosis notification register: Contains information on all TB patients registered in the area
• Stock register: Used for recording the information on the stock of drugs and consumables received and issued by the health unit
• Reconstitution register: Used for recording the receipt of drugs of patients who have defaulted, died, failed treatment or transferred out
• Referral for treatment register: Maintained in all big hospitals and medical colleges where large numbers of cases are expected to be diagnosed and referred for treatment to other reporting units

Tablets

NTEP has provided tablet computers to all the key staff with the objective to support the system of capturing important information on a real-time basis. Distribution and storage of these tablet computers is another activity of the drug stores.

Programmatic guidelines

• Technical and Operational Guidelines 
• National Guidelines on Programmatic Management of Drug-resistant TB
• National Guidelines on Partnerships
• Desk Reference (Charts on diagnostic algorithm, dosage of anti-TB drugs, any other)
• Laboratory Manual for Sputum Smear Microscopy and NTEP Laboratory Network guidelines for Quality Assurance of smear microscopy for diagnosing TB
• Guidance document on Nutrition Support to TB patients
• Other relevant documents/ guidelines/ circulars circulated by the Central TB Division (CTD).

It is the responsibility of the state to determine once a year the number of forms and registers that would be needed during the following year. The states must ensure that there is an adequate supply of all the forms, registers and guidelines within the state and that sufficient funds are available for the same.

Once printed, all the forms, registers and guidelines are stored at the SDSs from where they are further distributed to the districts and other health units.

Resources

• Technical and Operational Guidelines for Tuberculosis Control, Central TB Division, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, 2005. 
• Training Modules (5-9) for Programme Managers & Medical Officers. Central TB Division, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, 2020. 

Assessment