For Ramesh Kumar (name changed), a 42-year-old epilepsy patient from eastern Uttar Pradesh, regular treatment has always come with an added layer of anxiety—whether he would be able to afford the tests needed to adjust his medicines safely.
“I have been on anti-epileptic drugs for years. Doctors keep changing the dose depending on how my body responds, but every time they asked for a Therapeutic Drug Monitoring (TDM) test, I had to go outside and shell out a lot,” he said. “Sometimes I delayed the test because of the cost.”
Like many epilepsy patients, Ramesh requires periodic monitoring of drug levels in his blood to prevent seizures on one hand and avoid side effects on the other. “If the dose is even slightly wrong, I either feel extremely drowsy or I get breakthrough seizures,” he said.
The announcement that AIIMS has restarted providing TDM tests free of cost from January 1 this year has brought a sense of relief. “Now I won’t have to choose between buying medicines and getting tests done. It gives me confidence that my treatment will be safer and more regular,” he said.
For patients like him who travel long distances for treatment, free testing within the hospital also means fewer delays and fewer visits to private laboratories. “When everything is available in one place, treatment becomes easier. I hope this helps people like me live a more normal life,” he added.
Dr. Ashok Sharma, Additional Professor of Neuro-biochemistry at AIIMS Delhi said, that the initiative aims to significantly enhance the safety and effectiveness of epilepsy treatment while easing the financial burden on patients and their families. Patients often had to pay anywhere between Rs. 390 and Rs. 1,880 per test, a significant expense for those requiring regular monitoring.
Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disorder characterised by recurrent, unprovoked seizures caused by abnormal electrical activity in the brain. According to global estimates, nearly 50 million people worldwide live with epilepsy, with India accounting for a substantial share of the burden.
Characterized by recurrent, unprovoked seizures, the disease is far from uniform in how it manifests. Seizures vary significantly in type, intensity, and cause, and effective treatment requires not only an accurate diagnosis but ongoing fine-tuning of therapeutic modalities.
Dr. Sharma further said, “Therapeutic Drug Monitoring plays a crucial role in addressing this challenge. TDM tests measure the concentration of anti-epileptic drugs in the blood, allowing doctors to fine-tune dosages for each individual. The tests help assess whether a drug is working effectively, whether dose adjustments are needed, and whether the medication is causing harmful side effects. This is particularly important for children, elderly patients, pregnant women, and those taking multiple medications.”
He added that TDM not only helps optimise treatment but also reduces the risk of drug toxicity—a key concern for epilepsy patients who often require lifelong therapy. By enabling precise and timely adjustments in medication, the initiative is expected to improve seizure control, reduce hospital admissions, and enhance patients’ quality of life.
According to the AIIMS media cell, directives have been issued to all departments and centres, including the National Cancer Institute (NCI), Jhajjar, Haryana to send patient samples to designated laboratories within the institute. Both inpatients and outpatients will be eligible for the service. For OPD patients at AIIMS Delhi, sample collection will take place at Collection Centre Room No. 3 between 8:30 am and 1:00 pm. Similar facilities will be available at the NCI and AIIMS Jhajjar campus.
