Fifty-four-year old Suresh has been drinking alcohol since he was nine. He ran away from his house in Bengaluru and landed in Goa. He has been working in a bar ever since.

Suresh, whose name has been changed to protect his identity, was diagnosed with tuberculosis (TB) in August after he vomited blood. He was then sent to the TB hospital in Margao, Goa. He will be in the hospital for six months for the duration of treatment where he is also given treatment for withdrawal symptoms, and addiction.

“My hands were shivering and I could not sleep when I arrived here. If I was out of hospital, I would not be able to manage a day without drinking,” he said. He said he was diagnosed with HIV about 20-25 years ago for which he said he was taking medicines on and off.

The Margao hospital which is perched on Monte Hill in south Goa was once a sanatorium, and built by the Portuguese rulers. It is a ramshackle hospital with wooden rooftops and flooring, large windows, and empty corridors, suited for infection control.

Mahesh Gaunekar, Goa state TB officer, said that in the past two to three years, they have been encouraging patients such as Suresh to get admitted in the hospital. As an alcoholic, Suresh has been classified among the vulnerable populations affected by tuberculosis who need in-patient care in this TB hospital for the duration of the treatment to have better outcomes. They also encourage admission for diabetic patients who need insulin injections, or migrant workers who struggle for housing and other needs. The idea is to ensure that medicines are taken properly, and that the patient feels supported.

The 66-bedded sanatorium had just 19 TB patients when IndiaSpend visited the hospital late August. Govind Desai, the South Goa district TB officer, said that they are not hard pressed for beds, and it makes sense for them to admit patients such as Suresh.

“So, that's why we prefer to keep vulnerable people. Especially when they're alcoholics, the moment we discharge them, they go and they give up on the treatment. So we try to keep them. At least while they're here, they continue their treatment,” said Desai.

Staffers of the sanatorium say that about half of the TB patients admitted have alcohol problems.