Q.67 India is aiming to be free of tuberculosis by 2025. One of the key approaches
for this program is DOTS. Which one of the following options is the full form
of DOTS?
(A) Directly observed therapy short–course
(B) Directly observed tuberculosis short–course
(C) District operated therapy system
(D) Directly operated therapy short–course
Directly Observed Therapy Short-Course (DOTS) is the correct full form, making option (A) the right answer for this question on India’s tuberculosis elimination program.
Option Analysis
Option (A) Directly observed therapy short-course matches the WHO-recommended TB control strategy, where health workers observe patients taking medication to ensure adherence and prevent drug resistance.
Option (B) Directly observed tuberculosis short-course incorrectly specifies “tuberculosis” instead of the standard “therapy” term used globally.
Option (C) District operated therapy system has no relation to TB programs and refers to unrelated administrative systems.
Option (D) Directly operated therapy short-course misuses “operated” rather than “observed,” which is essential for supervised treatment.
India aims to be tuberculosis-free by 2025 through the National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP), with DOTS full form Directly Observed Therapy Short-Course as a cornerstone strategy. This WHO-endorsed approach ensures high cure rates by supervising TB medication intake, vital for competitive exams like CSIR NET Life Sciences.
What is DOTS Full Form?
DOTS stands for Directly Observed Therapy Short-Course, a five-component TB control method: government commitment, case detection via microscopy, standardized short-course drugs, direct observation of treatment, and reporting systems.
Introduced in India via the Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme (RNTCP) in 1997, it now covers the entire population under NTEP.
The “short-course” refers to 6-8 months of treatment, far shorter than older regimens, boosting completion rates above 85%.
Role in India’s TB Elimination
DOTS prevents multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) by ensuring adherence, key to India’s 2025 goal despite 2.6 million annual cases.
It provides free drugs, reduces transmission, and has treated over 500,000 patients in early expansions.
Expanded to DOTS-Plus for MDR-TB, it prioritizes standard cases first.
Benefits and Components
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High Cure Rates: Over 95% success when fully implemented.
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Cost-Effective: Saves lives and healthcare costs.
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Supervision: Health workers or community members observe doses.
| Component | Description |
|---|---|
| Political Commitment | Funding and policy support |
| Case Detection | Sputum microscopy |
| Treatment Regimen | 4-drug short course |
| Observation | Direct pill intake monitoring |
| Monitoring | Outcome reporting |
This strategy aligns with global efforts, making it a frequent CSIR NET topic in public health and microbiology sections.
2 Comments
Sonal Nagar
January 8, 2026Directly observed therapy short–course
Bhanwar
January 26, 2026A, DOTS full form Directly Observed Therapy Short-Course