17.7% decline in TB cases in India from 2015 to 2024, double than global average of 8.3%

New Delhi: The rate of TB decline in India from 2015 to 2024 is 17.7% which is double that of the global average of 8.3%. The deaths due to TB have reduced significantly in India by 21.4% in the last 10 years. This was stated by Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Jagat Prakash Nadda who recently held a meeting with Chief Ministers/LGs and State Health Ministers of States/UTs.

Requesting their support toward the ongoing 100-day Intensified TB Elimination Campaign via video conference, Nadda credited the state ministers for the achievements made towards TB eradication. He highlighted the importance of test, track and diagnostics for active TB testing, screening and diagnosis of patients and urged the dignitaries to actively monitor the campaign in the identified districts in their respective states. Underlining the support that state ministers can provide on the TB campaign, he requested them to promote the campaign in their meetings and rallies and also urged them to come forward as Ni-KshayMitras to adopt TB patients.

Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Prataprao Jadhav joined the meeting virtually.

The Health Minister noted that states already have nearly two months stock of TB medicines and stated that the Centre is working towards ensuring advance stock of at least 6 months of TB medicines available in the states. He concluded his address by encouraging all the stakeholders to reiterate their commitment to end TB.

An overview of the 100-day campaign which aims to reduce TB incidence and mortality due to TB in 347 priority districts across the country was presented at the event. It was informed that to increase detection, intensified case finding drives will be conducted using advanced screening and diagnostic technologies to reduce delays in diagnosis and treatment initiation. Parallelly, to reduce mortality due to TB, the programme will expand access to novel initiatives such as the Differentiated TB Care to provide specialised care for high-risk patients and increased nutritional support through Ni-kshayPoshan Yojana.

The Chief Ministers expressed their appreciation for the Union Government’s intensified efforts in the TB campaign and pledged their support toward achieving the goal of TB elimination.

The meeting was attended by Yogi Adityanath, Chief Minister, Uttar Pradesh; Dr Mohan Yadav, Chief Minister, Madhya Pradesh; Bhupendra Patel, Chief Minister, Gujarat; Bhajan Lal Sharma, Chief Minister, Rajasthan; Manik Saha, Chief Minister, Tripura; Pushkar Singh Dhami, Chief Minister, Uttrakhand; Satya Kumar Yadav, Health Minister (Andhra Pradesh); BiyuramWahge, Health Minister, Arunachal Pradesh; Ashok Singhal, Health Minister (Assam); Arti Rao, Health Minister (Haryana); Sakeena Itoo, Health Minister Jammu & Kashmir; Dr. (Col.) Dhani Ram Shandil, Health Minister, Himachal Pradesh; Vishwajit P. Rane, Health Minister, Goa; Dinesh Gundu Rao, Health Minister, Karnataka; P. Paiwang Konyak, Health Minster, Nagaland; Dr. Mukesh Mahaling, Health Minister, Odisha; Dr. Balbir Singh, Health Minister, Punjab; Veena George, Health Minister, Kerala; Ma. Subramanian, Health Minister, Tamil Nadu; Irfan Ansari, Health Minister, Jharkhand); Damodar Rajanarasimha, Health Minister, Telangana; Mazel Ampareen Lyngdoh, Health Minister (Meghalaya); P Lalrinpuii, Health Minister, Mizoram and Ramakant Goswami, Labour Minister (Delhi).

Since the launch of the campaign, a total of 53 lakh vulnerable individuals have been screened. Out of these, 2.21 lakh individuals have been tested, leading to the diagnosis of 22,178 new patients. Through the NikshayPoshan Yojana, 17,621 beneficiaries have received Direct Benefit Transfers (DBT), and in total, 16 lakh beneficiaries have been paid 416 crore rupees in the year. Additionally, 1,630 new Ni-kshayMitras were registered, collectively adopting over 12,000 patients during the campaign period.