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Source-This post on Revising TB treatment protocols has been created based on the article “Health Ministry reworks protocol as country’s TB elimination drive plateaus” published in “The Hindu” on 6 June 2024.
Why in News?
Recently, Health Ministry official stated that India’s efforts to achieve a rapid decline in tuberculosis (TB) morbidity and mortality and work towards the elimination of TB by 2025 have stalled. The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) is looking at reworking the protocol.
About revised TB treatment protocols
1. The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) is revising TB treatment protocols, focusing on medication and treatment duration.
2. Objective: To rejuvenate the TB-free initiative and eliminate deaths, disease, and poverty caused by TB.
3. India has been fighting TB for over 50 years. TB remains one of the country’s most severe health challenges, causing significant mortality and suffering.
4. TB Mortality and Missing Cases:
i) TB kills an estimated 480,000 Indians annually, equating to over 1,400 deaths per day.
ii) Over a million TB cases go unreported annually, often due to under diagnosis or inadequate treatment in the private sector.
5. Technological Advancements: New technologies enhance early TB detection capabilities. Improved interventions and technologies are available for the diagnosis, treatment, and care of TB.
6. Ongoing Challenges and Required Actions: Despite advancements, more needs to be done to significantly reduce TB incidence. The Health Ministry emphasizes the need for increased efforts to address the ongoing TB crisis effectively.
Read more: India TB report 2024
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