Tuberculosis (TB)

Context

Prime Minister Narendra Modi called for scaling up targeted interventions and successful strategies in early detection to eliminate tuberculosis (TB), while chairing a high-level meeting to review progress under the National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP).

About Tuberculosis (TB)

TB is caused by a bacterium known as Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which belongs to a family of around 200 bacteria species called
Types of TB:TB primarily affects the lungs (pulmonary TB) in humans. However, it can also affect other organs (extra-pulmonary TB).
Historical Context:TB is an ancient disease, with evidence of its existence dating back to 3000 BC in Egypt.
Treatability:TB is treatable and curable with appropriate medication and management.
Transmission:TB spreads from person to person through the air. When individuals with lung TB cough, sneeze, or spit, they release TB germs into the air, which can be inhaled by others.
Treatment: Current biomedical strategies to reduce new infections include the
- BCG vaccine, which protects against severe forms of childhood TB
- Tuberculosis preventive treatment (TPT) which aims to cover other household contacts, clinical-risk groups apart from children younger than five years and household contacts with HIV
- Effective rifamycin-based regimes

WHO’s Global Tuberculosis Report 2024

India tops the list of 30 high-burden TB countries, accounting for 26 per cent of the global TB burden.
There is an 18 per cent reduction in TB incidence in India—from 237 to 195 per 100,000 population—between 2015 and 2023, which is nearly double the global pace of around 9 per cent.
TB mortality in India fell by 21 per cent, while treatment coverage rose to 85 per cent.
Key-Government Initiatives:
- India has set 2025 as its target year for TB elimination—five years ahead of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) target of 2030.
- PM Ni-kshay scheme: Launched in 2018, the scheme provides financial support to TB patients through direct benefit payments of Rs 1,000 per month to help them afford nutritious food during their treatment.
- 100-day TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan: The recently concluded 100-day TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan, which screened 129.7 million people in 445 high-focus and aspirational districts across India. The campaign led to the detection of around 719,000 new TB cases, of which 285,000 were asymptomatic.
- National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP)
- National Strategic Plan (NSP) for Tuberculosis Elimination (2017-2025)
- TB Harega Desh Jeetega Campaign
- TB Free India Campaign