Table 2.

Operational plan to provide psychological support to tuberculosis patients in the health care system.

Level	Action	Targets to be achieved
National	• Wide publicity in social media on the prevention and management of tuberculosis. • Publicize the importance of psychological support to tuberculosis patients.	• Awareness among the people to maintain hygiene and avoid transmission of tuberculosis. • Reduce stigma toward tuberculosis patients and also empowering these patients for proper treatment.
Community	• Campaigning at household and community levels on the prevention, management and support systems (medical and psychological) available for tuberculosis patients.	• Awareness on tuberculosis and knowledge on access to treatment. • Support tuberculosis patients and guide them toward treatment options.
Hospital	• Implement training programs on psychological interventions and their benefits on treatment regimen. • Support groups should be created and managed by an experienced counselor or social worker. • A health worker (nurse) trained in management of TB should be co-opted. • Creating a support group should be based on a clear eligibility criteria. • Review of each support group meeting to be made by the counselor and steps initiated for the betterment of the next meeting, based on the experiences in the current meeting.	• Sensitize the medical practitioners on the psychological needs of tuberculosis patients and the beneficial effects of such interventions on recovery. • Assessment of emotional and socioeconomic issues. • Establishment of drug abuse, if any and initiate treatment accordingly. • Identification of patients with depression and prescribe antidepressant regimen. • Analyze the drugs being given to the patients and the possible psychological side effects. • Involving family members to provide emotional support.