Initiatives/ Scheme
Kasanoi Erappila Thittam (TN-KET)
- Context:Tuberculosis death rates showed a sustained decline in six districts of Tamil Nadu following the roll-out of the State’s Kasanoi Erappi-la Thittam (TN-KET), a new study published in Global Health Action has found.
- “Beyond the six districts, the overall impact of TN-KET also reflected across the rest of the State, with a nearly 2.5% reduction in TB deaths after its implementation.
Kasanoi Erappila Thittam (TN-KET)
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- TN-KET is a state-level TB mortality reduction initiative launched by Tamil Nadu in 2022, focused on early detection and differentiated care for severe TB cases.
- Tamil Nadu has become the first state in India to include a predictive system for tuberculosis (TB) mortality in its TB eradication programme.
- The forecasting model was created by the Indian Council of Medical Research’s National Institute of Epidemiology (ICMR-NIE).
- The predictive model has been incorporated into Tamil Nadu’s TB SeWA platform and will operate under the Tamil Nadu Kasanoi Erappila Thittam (TN-KET) patient care initiative.
Key Features:
- Paper-Based Triage Tool: Assesses 5 quick parameters (BMI, oxygen level, respiratory rate, leg swelling, ability to stand) to classify patients as “severely ill.”
- Fast-Track Care: 98% of identified severe cases admitted within 7 days.
- Severe TB Web App: Calculates mortality risk and helps guide urgent interventions.
- Simplified Assessment: No lab needed and saves 6–7 days over older 16-parameter tools.
- Differentiated Care Model: Offers customized treatment based on age, BMI, severity, and comorbidities.
Key Achievements & Impact
- DataReduction in Early Deaths: Statewide early TB deaths saw a 20% decline within just two quarters of the project’s execution.
- District-Level Progress: By 2024, nearly two-thirds of Tamil Nadu’s districts documented a 20% to 30% reduction in overall TB mortality.
- High Screening Efficiency: In 2024, 98% of adult TB patients were successfully triaged at diagnosis, well exceeding the state’s initial target of 90%.
