India Reports Highest-Ever TB Cases in 2024, But Incidence and Mortality Rates Decline

Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Anupriya Patel, said that India reported 25.5 lakh tuberculosis (TB) cases in 2023 and 26.07 lakh in 2024, the highest ever reported cases. Even with this increase, she pointed out that the overall incidence and mortality rates have improved remarkably. Since 2015, the rate of incidence has reduced by 17.7%, from 237 cases per lakh population to 195 per lakh in 2023, and TB deaths have reduced by 21.4%.

Another significant accomplishment has been the drastic decline in missing TB cases, which declined from 15 lakh in 2015 to only 2.5 lakh in 2023. The treatment coverage has also increased significantly, from 53% in 2015 to 85% in 2023.

New Initiatives and Innovations to Fight TB:

Addressing the India Innovation Summit – "Pioneering Solutions to End TB" at the Bharat Mandapam Convention Centre, Patel spoke of various initiatives from the government to fortify TB control activities. These are:

• Enhanced Treatment of Drug-Resistant TB: Launch of a shorter and more safe oral regimen with Bedaquiline, boosting success rates from 68% in 2020 to 75% in 2022.

• mBPaL Therapy: A Major Breakthrough: An innovation six-month treatment that is 80% more efficient for the treatment of multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB).

• Increased Nutritional Support: The Ni-kshay Poshan Yojana now provides ₹1,000 per month, doubled from ₹500, to support TB patients.

• Ni-kshay Mitra: Caring for TB Families: TB patients and their families benefit from this program, which gives them food baskets and additional support.

• TB Mukt Bharat: Intensifying the Fight Against TB: This 100-day campaign, launched on December 7, 2024, is ramping up efforts to detect cases early, provide nutritional aid, and more, across 455 districts.

Advancements in TB Detection and Diagnosis:

To enhance TB detection and treatment effectiveness, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has launched a number of innovative technologies, such as:

• Handheld X-ray Devices: Low-radiation, portable X-ray machines for screening TB in rural areas.

• AI-Based Chest X-ray Analysis (DeepCXR): In collaboration with the Institute of Plasma Research, Ahmedabad, for speeding up TB detection.

• CyTb Skin Test: A cheaper substitute for the costly IGRA test to identify latent TB.

• PathoDetectTM NAAT Test: A fast molecular diagnostic tool that can detect TB and drug resistance at the same time.

• Quantiplus MTB FAST Detection Kit: A low-cost, India-developed RT-PCR test with 86% sensitivity and 96% specificity.

India’s Broader Disease Elimination Goals:

At the summit, Dr. V.K. Paul, Member (Health) of NITI Aayog, reaffirmed India's commitment to eradicating five additional diseases in the next five years—Leprosy, Lymphatic Filariasis, Measles, Rubella, and Kala-azar. He also highlighted increasing prominence of AI and digital innovations in medicine, especially expanding TB detection and treatment methods.

Dr. Rajiv Bahl, Director General, ICMR, seconded these words, expressing that India is working dedicatedly on formulating quicker diagnostic tools, more efficient treatments, and AI-based technologies to better control TB.

Looking Ahead: World TB Day 2025

The TB Mukt Bharat progress report shall be launched on World TB Day, March 24, 2025, reporting India's progress in the elimination of TB.

The summit featured more than 1,200 researchers, experts, and industry leaders who converged to deliberate on over 200 health innovations. The event reinforced India's vision of ending TB by 2025 using technology, policy, and community-based programs to make this ambitious vision a reality.

(Input from various sources)

(Rehash/Sai Sindhuja K/MSM)