Original Title : eDOTS:
Revolutionizing Tuberculosis Treatment Media Format :
MIS/Web & Mobile Website : http://opasha.org Producer :
Operation ASHA Language : English, Hindi, easy translated
into other languages Location : Delhi,
INDIA Contact : sandeep.ahuja@opasha.org
DESCRIPTION
Operation ASHA eDOTS initiative is enhancing tuberculosis (TB) control by
implementing biometric attendance terminals at its treatment centres. Because
patients who default on their medicines are likely
to develop multi-drug
resistant TB (MDR), patient adherence to standard tuberculosis medicines is
essential. In response to the rising epidemic, the WHO implemented the DOTS
program, which requires patients to travel to TB clinics and take their
medicines under the observation of a health worker. eDOTS program requires
patients to register their attendance on a fingerprint reader when they take
their medicines. At the end of each day, the attendance record from every
terminal is sent to the database via text message. On the occasion that a
patient misses his or her dose, a notifying text message is sent from the
terminal to the responsible health worker and supervisor. Once the SMS is sent,
the health worker has 48 hours to deliver TB medicines and acquire the
fingerprint of the defaulting patient as proof of the visit. eDOTS focuses
health consultation on the patients who need it most, while providing
indisputable verification that a patient was physically present for the
treatment.
EVALUATION
The Jury appreciated the fact that eDOTS initiative is the first to apply
biometric attendance monitoring to tuberculosis treatment in the country. It was
observed that as on date no other TB control system could provide verifiable
evidence to back up its TB statistics. The Jury noted that in that context,
innovation, transparency and accountability are the strong pillars of this
initiative. The Jury also noted that eDOTS is currently the most reliable method
of tracking tuberculosis treatment for slum areas. Usually TB symptoms subside
after the first two months of treatment consequently patients often fail to
complete the full 6-7 month regimen. It was observed that in response to this
common behaviour among ill-informed under-privileged patients, eDOTS digitally
tracks patient adherence and ensures that patients are physically present to
take their medicines. The Jury appreciated that this initiative, now implemented
in all OpASHA South Delhi Centres over an year, would be the most effective in
areas with minimal resources and that way the project is doing an yeoman service
to the health sector.
