TB incidence rate in India has shown a 17.7% decline during 2023: Govt

New Delhi: “The National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP) has made significant efforts to make India TB free. The incidence rate of TB in India has shown a 17.7% decline from 237 per 100,000 population in 2015 to 195 per 100,000 population in 2023,” stated the Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Anupriya Patel while giving a written reply in the upper house (Rajya Sabha) of the Parliament.

“TB deaths has reduced by 21.4% from 28 per lakh population in 2015 to 22 per lakh population in 2023,” she added.

The progress made in notification of TB cases in last five years:

NTEP is implemented under the aegis of the National Health Mission (NHM). It implements a National Strategic Plan for TB Elimination (2017-25) across the country.

The key efforts and interventions made under the NTEP are targeted interventions in high TB burden areas through State and District Specific Strategic plans. It also has a provision of free drugs and diagnostics to TB patients. The program includes active TB case-finding through campaigns in key vulnerable and co-morbid populations.

NTEP also involves integration of Ayushman Arogya Mandir with TB screening and treatment services. It also looks at private sector engagement with incentives for notification and management of TB cases.

The program has responsibility for scaling up of molecular diagnostic laboratories to sub-district levels. It also looks at expansion of coverage under Ni-kshay Poshan Yojana for nutritional support to TB patients.