Tuberculosis in India

Syllabus: Health

Source:  PIB

 Context: India has made notable progress in its mission to eliminate tuberculosis (TB), with a 17.7% decline in TB incidence from 2015 to 2023, surpassing the global average.

Strategies and Targets for Ending Tuberculosis in India:

• SDG Goal 3.3: Target to end TB by 2025, five years ahead of the global 2030 deadline.
• Key targets:
  • 80% reduction in TB incidence from 2015 levels.
  • 90% reduction in TB mortality.
  • Zero TB-affected households facing catastrophic expenses.

India’s approach:

• National tuberculosis elimination programme (ntep): Implements the National Strategic Plan (NSP) 2017–2025 for TB elimination.
• Diagnosis expansion: Increased access to sputum smear and nucleic acid amplification tests.
• Treatment support: Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) via Ni-kshay Poshan Yojana; incentives for ASHA workers, TB champions, and family caregivers.
• Community engagement: Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (PMTBMBA) drives community involvement with support from over 1.5 lakh Ni-kshay Mitras.
• Holistic care: Focuses on coexisting health conditions like malnutrition, diabetes, HIV, and substance abuse through inter-ministerial partnerships.

Challenges:

• High TB Burden: India continues to bear the world’s highest TB burden.
• Resource constraints: Limited healthcare infrastructure and workforce in remote areas.
• Awareness and Stigma: Social stigma and low awareness impact treatment adherence.
• Drug resistance: Increasing drug-resistant TB strains present treatment challenges.

Way forward:

• BCG studies: Research on adult BCG vaccination.
• Expanded preventive therapy: scale up Tuberculosis Preventive Therapy (TPT) with new, shorter regimens.
• Improved diagnostics: Broaden access to molecular diagnostic tests.
• Decentralized care: TB service delivery through Ayushman Arogya Mandirs.
• Enhanced Community Support: Strengthen community-based care via PMTBMBA.

Insta Links:

PYQ: