Sustained fight against TB
Tuberculosis, one of the leading infectious diseases in the world still remains a key health challenge globally. The disease has significantly been controlled in India but still the South-East Asia region continues to carry a disproportionate share of the tuberculosis burden.
Pertinently, India has made significant progress in reducing tuberculosis (TB) cases, with a 21% decline in incidence between 2015 and 2024, nearly double the global average rate of decline.
The country reported an estimated 27.1 lakh TB cases and over 3 lakh deaths in 2024. Despite this progress, India missed its target of eliminating TB by 2025, highlighting persistent challenges like drug-resistant strains, healthcare gaps, and social stigma.
Presently, several initiatives like the TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan which was launched in December 2024 has screened over 19 crore vulnerable individuals, detecting over 24.5 lakh TB patients, including 8.61 lakh asymptomatic cases.
Besides, the National Tuberculosis Elimination Program (NTEP) also focuses on early detection, universal drug susceptibility testing, free treatment, and community involvement.
The Nikshay Poshan Yojanatoo has been a key scheme meant to provide nutritional support to TB patients.
However, several challenges still remain like high prevalence of TB, underreporting, and delayed diagnosis. Besides, poverty, malnutrition, and overcrowding is leading to increasing medication resistance and noncompliance with treatment guidelines.
Notably, the WHO has also called for stronger national leaderships, sustained investment and continued engagement of communities and people to control the spread of the disease.
The health body has cautioned that the South-East Asia region accounts for approximately 34 per cent of people developing the disease globally and nearly 40 per cent of deaths.
In 2024 alone, an estimated 3.68 million people developed TB, and approximately 433,000 lives were lost, including 13,000 among people living with HIV. This year’s theme — “Yes! We Can End TB” — is a timely reminder that progress is within reach when political commitment, science and innovation, and community leadership come together.
Since 2015, South-East Asia has achieved 23 per cent reduction in TB deaths, and 16 per cent decline in TB incidence, outpacing the global average decline of 12 per cent.
Significantly, treatment coverage has expanded to more than 85 per cent, with over 3.1 million people initiating treatment in 2024. The member states continue to achieve treatment success rates above the global average, including for drug-resistant TB, while expanding preventive treatment for people living with HIV and household contacts.
What is noteworthy is that the national programmes are strengthening TB services, integrating them within primary health care and universal health coverage, and using data and innovation to reach those still being missed. These gains reflect the sustained efforts of governments, health workers, communities and partners across the region.
