ICMR study finds six-month all-oral regimens for drug-resistant TB cost-effective in India
An ICMR–National Institute for Research in Tuberculosis study, released by the Health Ministry on 12 February 2026, found that six-month all-oral BPaL and BPaLM regimens for drug-resistant TB are cost-effective in India.
Summary
An economic evaluation by the ICMR–National Institute for Research in Tuberculosis (ICMR-NIRT), released by the Health Ministry on 12 February 2026, found that shorter six-month all-oral regimens for multidrug-resistant and rifampicin-resistant TB are cost-effective in India. The study, published in the Indian Journal of Medical Research, compared BPaL (bedaquiline, pretomanid and linezolid) and BPaLM (with moxifloxacin) with the 9–11 month and 18–20 month regimens used under the National TB Elimination Programme. BPaL was both more effective and cost-saving, saving ₹379 per patient for each extra quality-adjusted life year gained.
Key facts
- Date
- 12 February 2026
- By
- ICMR-NIRT
- Regimens
- BPaL and BPaLM, six months, all-oral
- BPaL
- Bedaquiline, pretomanid, linezolid
- Finding
- BPaL cost-saving: ₹379 less per QALY gained
Practice MCQs 1 questions
In the BPaL regimen for drug-resistant TB, found cost-effective by an ICMR study in February 2026, 'P' stands for:
Show answer
Correct answer: D — Pretomanid
BPaL is bedaquiline, pretomanid and linezolid; BPaLM adds moxifloxacin.