Biography
Pulmonologist and public health professional with experience from private, public, and academic sectors, including clinical work in pulmonology, public health work, clinical and operational research. Trained in India (MBBS, MD Medicine) and UK (MRCP, CCST Respiratory) and have now completed MPH-Distance Learning, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine.
Worked in NHS, UK from 2000-2010 and completed CCST in Respiratory Medicine. Joined Medanta the Medicity, Delhi NCR, India in 2010; Director Respiratory Department, Medanta for the last four years. Feels passionately about Medicine and Health Inequity.
Recently published a fiction book “In A Better Place: A Doctor’s Journey”
Key Impacts
21st century challenges in scaling communityTB active case finding: Abnormal X-ray and negative mWRD?
In total, 8% of the initially mWRD negative cohort tested positive on two further sequential molecular tests, representing a significant yield of active cases. This evidence supports the recommendation for sequential testing of patients with radiological abnormalities suggestive of TB who have an initial mWRD negative test result irrespective of symptoms. Our results also call into question the value of repeat imaging CAD score. Further studies are required to improve the management of ACF patients with an initial negative mWRD, including optimal frequency and duration of repeat testing for specific populations. These patients highlight the need for improved diagnostic tools relevant to early disease stages.
Source: Conference 2024
Evaluating diagnostic yield of a numeric CAD score to triage mWRD negative patients for repeat mWRD testing in a rural Indian ACF programme
Our novel findings demonstrate that increasing CAD cut-offs is potentially an effective approach to triage suspected cases who are negative on a first mWRD assay. Limiting repeat mWRD assay to only suspected cases with a CAD score of >0.9 could potentially reduce the use of cartridges by 43% without any significant loss in diagnostic yield. Optimising the efficiency and cost effectiveness of ACF strategies is a key research priority to accelerate TB elimination.
Source: Conference 2024