DELEGATES to the NAPT Fourth Commonwealth Conference. in 1955 heard
Dr. P. V. Benjamin, Adviser in Tuberculosis to the Government of India,
describe the problem of tuberculosis in the country and the measures, preventive
and therapeutic, being made to control it. He estimated that there
were in the region of 2,5oo,ooo cases of tuberculosis causing some 5oo,ooo
deaths per year. These figures may be revised as a result of the national
survey of the disease now being undertaken, but it is evident that
the number of available beds–some–2o,ooo–is quite insufficient to offer inpatient
treatment to the majority of cases, and that in the field of treatment
the only immediate and practicable approach is some form of mass
domiciliary chemotherapy. This method of attack upon tuberculosis in
under-developed countries has been much discussed, but little experience
has been obtained in practice; moreover each country presents its own
peculiar problems-and it was felt that, before embarking upon a nationwide
scheme, further information should be obtained relevant to its use in Indi
