Why is nutrition support data shared with TB patients?

• The Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan, launched in 2018, requires Ni-kshay Mitras to provide nutrition support to consented TB patients.

• The consent form for the program is conditional on TB patients sharing their data, which can be revoked at any time.

• The consent form lacks crucial information about patients’ freedom to enrol or not enrol in the program.

• The consent form is basic with little information, making it more a declaration than a consent.

• The consent form gives patients the right to revoke consent without stating that revoking consent would not lead to the stoppage of nutritional support.

• The consent form is coercive and does not assure patients that not consenting will not lead to nonprovision of other nutritional support.

• Violation of patient confidentiality is rampant, with social media platforms awash with photographs of TB patients receiving nutrition kits.

• The scheme lacks standardisation and fails to ensure universal nutrition support to patients.

• Tamil Nadu and Kerala have demonstrated that maintaining patient confidentiality while ensuring patients receive nutrition support from Mitras.

• In Tamil Nadu, all organizations providing nutrition support to patients are required to handover the kits to district TB staff without TB patients coming into the picture.

• Kerala is ahead of the curve in providing nutritional support to TB patients, providing financial assistance of Rs.1,000 a month from the State for the entire duration of treatment.