Tamil Nadu’s TN-KET Cuts TB Deaths by 20%

Tamil Nadu’s TN-KET Initiative Reduces TB Deaths

Why in the News?

Tamil Nadu’s TN-KET initiative, launched in 2022, has led to a 21% decline in early TB deaths by using a triage-based tool for swift identification of severely ill tuberculosis (TB) patients. The model demonstrates potential for nationwide adoption under India’s TB elimination programme, showcasing a significant improvement in TB mortality rates.

Impact and Effectiveness

  • The initiative led to a 21% drop in early TB deaths across Tamil Nadu in 2024, significantly improving the TB mortality rate and overall TB patient outcomes.
  • Districts like Tiruppur, Karur, and Villupuram recorded a 50–70% reduction in TB death rates, highlighting the effectiveness of targeted TB interventions.
  • 98% of severely ill TB patients identified using the tool were hospitalised within 7 days, demonstrating the initiative’s efficiency in prioritizing critical cases.
  • The TB Sewa Application, an enhancement of the previous web application, helps health workers assess mortality risk and take immediate action, functioning as a predictive death model for TB patients and improving overall TB care.

National Significance and Future Potential

  • India contributes 26% of global TB cases and 29% of TB deaths (2023 Global TB Report), underscoring the critical need for effective TB control measures.
  • 50% of TB deaths occur in the first two months of diagnosis—early intervention is critical for reducing TB mortality and improving patient outcomes.
  • TN-KET showcases how targeted patient care and simple screening tools can save lives and improve the TB mortality rate, offering valuable insights for national TB elimination efforts.
  • Experts recommend nationwide replication to achieve India’s TB elimination goals, including the ambitious 90-90-90-7 targets, which aim to significantly reduce TB incidence and mortality.

What is the TN-KET Initiative?
● Tamil Nadu-Kasanoi Erappila Thittam (TN-KET) was launched in 2022 to reduce early deaths from TB.
● It adopts a differentiated care model, providing treatment based on baseline body weight, age, respiratory rate, and other clinical indicators for TB patients.
● Patients are triaged using a triage tool to identify those who are severely ill with TB.
● Unlike traditional methods requiring lab tests, this tool offers same-day assessments and is quick, simple, and field-friendly for efficient TB screening.
● The initiative incorporates elements of directly observed treatment and leverages public health facilities for effective implementation of TB care and management.