Five priorities for India to eliminate TB

India’s fight against tuberculosis tells a story of real and hard-won progress

- Soumya Swaminathan

It remains concerning that more than 3,00,000 people continue to die from TB each year, despite the disease being curable.

(HT ARCHIVE)

Over the past decade, India has cut new tuberculosis (TB) cases by 21%, almost twice the pace of the rest of the world, a testament to enduring political commitment, increased funding, and homegrown innovation in detection and care.

India is now finding more TB patients than ever before. Now, with over 26 lakh cases recorded in 2025, the country is closing the longstanding gap of “missing” patients, reaching those who were always there but not diagnosed. In TB, being found is the first step to being cured.

As we acknowledge this hard-fought win, we must maintain this progress and accelerate towards global TB goals. Before we can eliminate TB (this could take decades), we must prevent all TB deaths and reduce catastrophic costs to families. Five priorities can help define the path ahead.

First, reducing TB deaths must become a central focus. It remains concerning that more than 3,00,000 people continue to die from TB each year, despite the disease being curable. A tailored and individualised approach — known as Differentiated TB Care —can help identify high-risk patients early and address their specific needs, such as comorbidities including diabetes, HIV, and malnutrition.