GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 7th Feb. Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said on Tuesday that India, after enduring two arduous years of the pandemic, has experienced a significant reduction in tuberculosis (TB) incidence by 16%, nearly double the global pace.
Speaking virtually at the 37th Board Meeting of the Stop TB Partnership, Mandaviya also highlighted the substantial decrease in missing TB cases in India, dropping from 1 million in 2015 to 0.26 million in 2023.
The term “missing TB cases” refers to the variance between estimated incident cases and those officially reported. The Stop TB Partnership, facilitated by the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS), serves as a collective driving force in the global battle against TB.
Mandaviya underscored TB’s longstanding status as a global health challenge, particularly accentuated by the disruptive effects of the COVID-19 pandemic in recent years. He noted that while global TB incidence decreased by 8.7%, India demonstrated a far more substantial reduction at 16%.
Addressing India’s commitment to eradicating TB by 2025, the Health Minister emphasized the nation’s advocacy and action on vital global concerns during its G20 Presidency. These efforts included enhancing healthcare service efficacy through digital innovations, bolstering pharmaceutical development and manufacturing capacities, and addressing “One Health” and Anti-Microbial Resistance, all of which resonate strongly with India’s and the world’s TB combat strategies.
With less than two years remaining to achieve India’s 2025 target, Mandaviya outlined a strategy centered on prevention while expanding coverage of TB detection and treatment services. He highlighted the remarkable decrease in missing TB cases from 2015 to 2023, underscoring the efficacy of ongoing efforts.
Mandaviya further noted a significant increase in private sector notifications, emphasizing the sector’s crucial role in TB detection and treatment. He highlighted the success of initiatives such as the Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan, the world’s largest crowd-sourcing endeavor, engaging over 150,000 Ni-kshay Mitra to support TB patients with nutritional and other essential needs.
Additionally, Mandaviya highlighted government initiatives like the Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra, which screened millions of individuals for TB and referred over one million for testing. Other achievements include the launch of the ‘TB Mukt Panchayat’ initiative, procurement of over 5 million courses of TB preventive treatment drug 3HP, and the provision of TB services at community-level Ayushman Arogya Mandirs.
