Sewri TB Hospital aims for Centre of Excellence status

Mumbai's Sewri TB Hospital is aiming to gain recognition as a Centre of Excellence for tuberculosis care. This facility is the largest TB hospital in India and has been operating since 1941. It has 1,000 beds, with 240 dedicated to patients with multi-drug resistant TB. The hospital sees a high patient volume, with between 6,000 and 7,000 admissions each year. However, many patients leave without completing their treatment, with about 5,000 discharges against medical advice annually. Records show that from 2017 to 2021, 439 patients absconded. In the past two years, the hospital has upgraded its facilities. A doctor at Sewri TB Hospital stated that they plan to submit a proposal for Centre of Excellence status to the Central TB Division shortly. They will hold discussions with senior officials before doing this. While the hospital meets many guidelines of the National TB Elimination Programme, there are concerns about its academic facilities. Currently, Wadia Hospital is recognized for treating pediatric TB, and JJ Hospital is the only Centre of Excellence for drug-resistant TB in western India. Nationally, only four other hospitals have this status, located in cities like Delhi and Chennai. To be recognized as a CoE, a hospital must provide comprehensive TB care and multispecialty support for other medical issues. Experts are uncertain if Sewri TB Hospital has the resources needed to achieve this recognition.