TB in India: A fight to the end

Source: The post is based on the article “TB in India: A fight to the end” published in “Indian Express” on 10th November 2023.

Syllabus: GS2- Governance- Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health.

News: The article discusses India’s tuberculosis (TB) situation, with a particular emphasis on the findings and suggestions presented in the WHO report. It highlights the high number of TB cases in 2022 and notes some progress in reducing TB mortality and improving case detection. Additionally, the article discusses challenges such as multi-drug resistant TB and underscores the significance of the WHO’s recommendations in addressing these issues.

What is TB?

Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious airborne bacterial disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It most commonly affects the lungs but can also damage other parts of the body.

For more information on TB read here

What are the findings of the WHO report on the TB situation in India?

Positive Findings:

Mortality and Incidence Reduction: The WHO report acknowledges a reduction in TB mortality and incidence in India over the past eight years, indicating progress. For instance, India recorded a staggering 28 lakh TB cases in 2022.

Improved Case Detection: The report highlights improvements in India’s TB case detection system, ensuring more timely diagnosis and treatment. This progress is essential in addressing the TB burden.

TB Reporting Resilience: Despite challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic, India’s TB reporting rebounded to 2019 levels, demonstrating the resilience of surveillance programs.

Negative Findings:

Multi-Drug Resistant TB Challenge: The report mentions that India faces a substantial challenge with multi-drug resistant (MDR) TB, with only slightly over half of the estimated 1,19,000 new cases reported annually.

Undiagnosed Cases: The WHO report raises concerns about the possibility that some “new cases” might actually be undiagnosed patients from the pandemic years.

Missed Elimination Target: Despite progress, India is likely to miss its target of eliminating TB by 2025.

What are the suggestions provided in the WHO report on the TB situation in India?

Utilize Molecular Diagnostics: The WHO recommends the use of molecular diagnostic tests for TB, similar to those used for COVID-19 detection. These tests have been effective in the pandemic and can be repurposed for TB diagnostics, as they provide more accurate results.

Address MDR TB Epidemic: The report suggests improving prescription practices, drug quality, and completion of medications to tackle the MDR TB epidemic effectively.

Enhance Patient Care: TB treatment is challenging, with side effects like nausea and jaundice. The report emphasizes the need for dedicated and caring physicians to support patients throughout their treatment, improving treatment completion rates.

What steps have been taken to combat TB in India?

India has taken significant steps to combat tuberculosis (TB) as part of its National Strategic Plan (NSP) for TB Elimination:

Setting Ambitious Targets: India aims to eliminate TB by 2025, five years ahead of the global goal. The NSP targets no more than 44 new TB cases or 65 total cases per lakh population by 2025.

Expanded Testing: The government has increased access to molecular test kits like CB-NAAT and TureNat across all districts, facilitating faster and more accurate TB diagnosis.

Community Engagement: Ni-Kshay Mitras engage in community programs, offering nutritional support to TB patients.

Free Medication: Essential medicines like Bedaquiline and Delamanid are provided free by the government for TB treatment.

Vaccine Research: Ongoing research on vaccines such as Immuvac and VPM1002 demonstrates India’s commitment to finding more effective ways to combat TB.

For additional details on the government’s efforts to combat TB in India, read here

Question to practice

Discuss the positive and negative findings presented in the WHO report on the tuberculosis (TB) situation in India.