India Advances Towards TB Elimination with Significant Progress
Why in the news?
WHO’s 2024 report shows India’s 17.7% TB incidence reduction since 2015, highlighting efforts under the National TB Elimination Programme to achieve TB-free status by 2025.
Achievements in Reducing TB Incidence:
- India achieved a 7% decline in TB cases from 2015 to 2023, surpassing the global average of 8.3%, according to WHO’s 2024 Global TB Report.
- This success stems from the National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (NTEP), which combines advanced diagnostics, preventive care, patient support, and collaboration with various sectors.
- India aims to eliminate TB by 2025, five years before the SDG deadline, targeting an 80% reduction in TB incidence, a 90% drop in TB mortality, and zero TB-related financial burdens on households.
Initiatives Under the National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (NTEP):
- NTEP has expanded testing significantly, conducting89 crore sputum smear tests and 68.3 lakh nucleic acid amplification tests in 2023.
- Newer, shorter regimens for drug-resistant TB (DR-TB) and decentralised TB services enhance accessibility and treatment quality.
- Preventive care includes Tuberculosis Preventive Therapy (TPT) for around 15 lakh beneficiaries, with special focus on high-risk groups like those affected by malnutrition, diabetes, HIV, and substance abuse.
- The Ni-kshay Poshan Yojana supports patients financially, disbursing nearly 2,781 crores to around 1 crore beneficiaries. Community involvement is boosted by the Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (PMTBMBA), with over 1.5 lakh Ni-kshay Mitras providing patient support.
Future Steps Toward TB Eradication:
- Planned measures include adult BCG vaccination studies, expanded TPT coverage with faster regimens, and increased access to molecular diagnostics.
- Decentralising TB services to Ayushman Arogya Mandirs and enhancing community support through PMTBMBA are crucial.
- With these initiatives, India’s collaborative and patient-centred approach aims to achieve TB elimination by 2025, underscoring its commitment to global health goals and effective healthcare solutions.
What is Tuberculosis (TB)?
- Cause: Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease caused by bacteria, primarily affecting the lungs.
- Transmission: Spreads through the air when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or spits.
- Prevention and Cure: TB is preventable and treatable.
- Prevalence: Approximately 25% of the global population is infected with TB bacteria.
Global TB Report:
- Published annually by WHO, it assesses TB epidemic trends and prevention, diagnosis, and treatment efforts globally, regionally, and nationally.
Key Highlights of 2024 Report:
- In 2023, 8.2 million new TB cases were recorded, the highest since WHO began monitoring in 1995, up from5 million in 2022.
- TB deaths decreased to25 million in 2023, down from 1.32 million in 2022.
- 30 low- and middle-income countries bear 87% of the TB burden, with India accounting for 26%.
- Major risk factors include undernutrition, HIV, alcohol use, smoking, and diabetes.
- India’s treatment coverage rose to 89% in 2023, with TB incidence reduced by 7% since 2015.