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India’s Fight Against TB: Progress and Goals

Last Updated

24th March, 2025

Date Published

24th March, 2025

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A realistic yet abstract digital painting illustrating Tuberculosis.

Context:

This analysis is based on a Press Information Bureau (PIB) document released by the Government of India on March 24, 2025, titled "World Tuberculosis (TB) Day - 2025: Towards a TB-Free India," from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. It highlights India’s efforts under the National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (NTEP) to eradicate TB by 2025, ahead of the global 2030 target. Released on World TB Day, themed "Yes! We Can End TB," the document details key initiatives, achievements, and challenges in tackling India’s 27% share of global TB cases, offering insights into public health policy as of March 24, 2025.

Crisp Information in Points:

  1. World TB Day: Observed annually on March 24 to mark Dr. Robert Koch’s 1882 discovery of the TB bacterium, with 2025’s theme "Yes! We Can End TB: Commit, Invest, Deliver."
  2. Global Burden: TB killed 1.25 million people worldwide in 2023, with 10.8 million new cases; India accounts for 27% (2.82 million cases in 2022) of the global total.
  3. India’s TB Stats: In 2022, India reported 199 cases and 23 deaths per 100,000 people; drug-resistant TB affects 2.5% of new cases and 13% of retreated cases.
  4. NTEP Goals: Targets an 80% reduction in TB cases and 90% in deaths from 2015 levels by 2025, ensuring no financial hardship for patients or families.
  5. Key Achievements: TB incidence dropped 17.7% (237 to 195 per 100,000) and deaths 21.4% (28 to 22 per 100,000) from 2015-2023; missing cases reduced from 15 lakh to 2.5 lakh (83% drop).
  6. Case Notifications: Record highs of 25.5 lakh cases in 2023 and 26.07 lakh in 2024, bolstered by house-to-house screening finding 3 lakh additional cases.
  7. PMTBMB Abhiyaan: Launched under NTEP, it crowdsources nutritional and vocational support for TB patients, dubbed the world’s largest such initiative.
  8. Ni-kshay Poshan Yojana: Offers ₹1,000 monthly (up from ₹500) to TB patients, with ₹3,202 crore disbursed to 1.13 crore beneficiaries; EDNS aids 12 lakh underweight patients.
  9. Ni-kshay Mitra: Over 2.59 lakh Mitras support 1.18 crore TB patients with food baskets, backed by an additional ₹1,040 crore government commitment.
  10. Drug-Resistant TB: New treatments like Bedaquiline and mBPaL regimens improve success rates to 75% and 80%, shortening MDR-TB treatment to six months.

Key Terms:

  • World TB Day: Annual event on March 24 raising TB elimination awareness.
  • NTEP: National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme aiming for TB-free India by 2025.
  • Drug-Resistant TB (DR-TB): TB strains resistant to standard drugs, a growing challenge.
  • PMTBMB Abhiyaan: Campaign uniting communities to support TB patients.
  • Ni-kshay Poshan Yojana: Financial aid scheme for TB patients’ nutrition.
  • Ni-kshay Mitra: Initiative encouraging adoption of TB patients for support.
  • Bedaquiline: Drug in shorter, safer regimen for drug-resistant TB treatment.