INDIA'S DETERMINED FIGHT AGAINST TB: PREVALENCE AND URGENCY

By adopting data-driven and technology-enabled strategies, India can lead the way in eliminating TB as a public health threat, setting a global benchmark for disease management.

- Dr. Gunisha Pasricha

Despite advances made in the healthcare sector, Tuberculosis remains one of the most serious public health problems in India. With over a billion people affected globally, tuberculosis has become a major global epidemic, resulting in significant annual productivity losses. In light of these staggering figures, the Government of India has set a goal to eliminate Tuberculosis by 2025, five years ahead of the original target of 2030, aligning with the global community's efforts.

While the National Tuberculosis Elimination Program (NTEP) has contributed to progress, India still struggles with major challenges like early diagnosis of drug-resistant TB, and treatment adherence. Fixing these issues would require the combination of precise diagnosis, genomics, and new age treatment approaches.

THE CHALLENGE OF TUBERCULOSIS IN INDIA

In 2023, TB returned to being the world's leading infectious disease killer, surpassing COVID-19. It was also the leading killer of people with HIV and a major cause of deaths related to antimicrobial resistance. According to the latest WHO report of 2024, India bears the largest (26%) portion of global TB burden and has the highest (27%) global number of people estimated to have developed MDR/RR-TB (Multidrug-resistant/ rifampicin-resistant TB) in 2023. This highlights the critical need for advanced detection methods for MDR-TB and effective strategies to prevent its spread.

India's TB burden involves a myriad of aspects, problematic due to certain interlinked components.

Underreporting of TB cases is a significant problem, with estimates suggesting that as many as 40% of cases in rural areas and among vulnerable populations go undetected.

Comorbidities such as HIV and diabetes exacerbate the challenges of TB control.

The goal of eliminating TB by 2025 will require a blend of technological investments and supportive policies. Some broad opportunities include: