The state government, in collaboration with the World Health Partners, launched a pilot project for tuberculosis patients in Patna on Friday.

“Universal Access to TB Care” would involve private facilities (diagnostic centres and chemists) and practitioners who would provide free diagnosis, treatment and medication. World Health Partners is the private provider interface agency (PPIA) of Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

Jagdish Prasad, director-general of health services, Government of India, launched the programme with Union health minister Ramdhani Singh at a city hotel on Friday.

Prasad said: “Out of 1,200 registered private practitioners in Patna, 236 have become our partners. We would try to get more on board for the success of this programme.”

Under the project, when a suspected TB patient visits the clinic of a private practitioner registered with the project, the latter first checks him. If symptoms of the disease exist, the doctor gives the patient the number of a call centre where he should send a missed call.

The call centre would generate and communicate an ID number to the patient. Once the number is provided, the doctor would not charge any consultation fee. Doctor would then inform patient of facilities where he can get diagnosed for free and chemists who would give medicines for free.

“People can get cellphone number and address of doctors (involved in this project) if they give a missed call to 08010108080 or they can contact me at 9473197731,” said state tuberculosis officer K.N. Sahai.