Source: - THE HINDU
India's TB Elimination Goal Faces Challenges
India’s goal to rapidly reduce TB morbidity and mortality by 2025 has plateaued.
The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) is considering reworking treatment protocols.
Aim: Reboot the TB-free initiative targeting zero deaths, disease, and poverty from TB.
Longstanding TB Crisis
Over 50 years of TB control efforts have not resolved the crisis.
TB kills approximately 480,000 Indians annually.
Over a million TB cases remain unnotified each year.
Issues: Inadequate diagnosis and treatment in the private sector.
New Technologies and Mandates
New technologies for early detection and advanced interventions are now available.
India mandates the notification of all TB cases.
TB programs integrated with general health services under the National Health Mission.
Expansion of diagnostic services.
Programmatic management of drug-resistant TB.
Single-window service for TB-HIV cases.
National drug resistance surveillance.
Revision of partnership guidelines.
Need for Accelerated Efforts
Current decline in TB incidence is too slow to meet the 2030 SDG and 2035 End TB targets.
Health Ministry emphasizes the need for new interventions.
Target: Accelerate TB incidence decline by 10-15% annually.
Strategy: 'Detect – Treat – Prevent – Build' (DTPB).
Daunting Challenges
India has 2.64 million TB cases and around 450,000 TB-related deaths in 2021.
Challenges: Drug resistance, co-infections with HIV, socio-economic issues, healthcare disparities.
Government's ambitious aim: Eliminate TB by 2025.
Other Important related info: -
What are the government’s steps for Eliminating TB in India?
Introduction of CB-NAAT and TureNat for TB detection | The government has increased access to more accurate molecular diagnostic tests like CB-NAAT and TureNat. The government has implemented a universal drug susceptibility test, which use the antibiotic susceptibility of the mycobacterium is determined for all newly diagnosed cases. |
Improvements in treatment protocols | Injectable kanamycin for TB elimination, which caused kidney failure and deafness, has been replaced by Bedaquiline and Delamanid. These new pharmaceuticals have also been included in the new National List of Essential Medicines, giving the government the authority to control their market pricing. |
Revised National Tuberculosis Control Program (RNTCP) | The RNTCP is a national program that provides free diagnosis and treatment for TB patients. The program has been expanded to cover the entire country. |
Community engagement programme | The government launched the community engagement programme where Nikshay mitras can adopt TB patients and provide them monthly nutritional support. |
Engaging with private healthcare providers | The government has engaged with private healthcare providers to improve the quality of TB care and ensure that TB patients receive appropriate treatment. |
TB elimination
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