India’s Determined Path to Tuberculosis Elimination

India has been at the forefront of the global fight against tuberculosis (TB), implementing various strategies to eliminate the disease. Despite significant progress, challenges persist in achieving the World Health Organization’s (WHO) targets for TB elimination.

Historical Context

India’s TB control efforts began in 1962 with the National Tuberculosis Program (NTP), which primarily focused on BCG vaccinations. In 1997, the Revised National Tuberculosis Control Program (RNTCP) was introduced, adopting the Directly Observed Treatment Short-course (DOTS) strategy to enhance treatment adherence and success rates. By 2005, the RNTCP achieved nationwide coverage. In 2020, the program was renamed the National Tuberculosis Elimination Program (NTEP) to reflect a more ambitious goal of eliminating TB by 2025.

Current Status and Challenges

Despite these efforts, India continues to account for approximately 27% of the global TB burden, with an incidence rate of 210 per 100,000 population in 2021. The country also faces a high prevalence of drug-resistant TB, including Multi-Drug Resistant (MDR) and Extensively Drug Resistant (XDR) TB.

Key Initiatives

Nikshay Poshan Yojana: Launched under the National Health Mission, this scheme provides a financial incentive of ₹500 per month to each notified TB patient for nutritional support during treatment.

Private Sector Engagement: Recognizing the significant role of the private sector in TB care, the NTEP has initiated partnerships to improve treatment adherence and case notification.

Way Forward

To achieve the WHO’s targets, India must address several critical areas:

Enhanced Diagnostics: Implementing AI-assisted handheld radiology and other innovative diagnostic tools can improve early detection and treatment outcomes.

New Therapeutic Agents: Accelerating the development and availability of newer, more effective anti-TB drugs is essential to combat drug-resistant strains.

Public Awareness and Education: Increasing public awareness about TB symptoms, treatment options, and the importance of completing the full course of treatment can reduce stigma and improve adherence.

Summary of the news

Key Point	Details
Why in News	India aims to eliminate TB by 2025 under the National Tuberculosis Elimination Program (NTEP). Despite progress, India accounts for 27% of the global TB burden, with challenges like drug-resistant TB and diagnostic gaps.
National Program	National Tuberculosis Elimination Program (NTEP), renamed from Revised National Tuberculosis Control Program (RNTCP) in 2020.
Target Year	India’s goal is to eliminate TB by 2025 (WHO global target: 2030).
Financial Support Scheme	Nikshay Poshan Yojana provides ₹500 per month to TB patients for nutritional support.
TB Burden in India (2021)	Incidence rate: 210 per 100,000 population. India accounts for 27% of the global TB burden.
Drug-Resistant TB Types	Multi-Drug Resistant (MDR) and Extensively Drug Resistant (XDR) TB prevalent in India.
Private Sector Role	Engaged in improving case notification and treatment adherence under NTEP.
Technological Focus	AI-assisted radiology and advanced diagnostic tools to improve TB detection.
Historical Start	National Tuberculosis Program (NTP) began in 1962; DOTS strategy introduced in 1997.
Global Context	WHO’s global target is to eliminate TB by 2030.