India: GIS-based mapping and tagging of TB patients on maps is on the anvil in India. The move will ensure that tuberculosis cases in India do not escape detection. Since the country has the highest number of TB cases in the World, majority of these cases go unreported and undiagnosed. The health ministry proposes to send out SMS reminders to the patients, along with automated voice calls and text alerts. As per a senior official, new initiatives such as weekly phone calls from the call centres-reminding patients for their next visit to the doctor are expected to pay a big role in reportage of TB cases. Every year about 12 lakh people are diagnosed with TB in India. And about 2.5 lakh die from the deadly cough.
Source: Asian Age
