PIB Summary- 6th November, 2024 | Current Affairs & Hindu Analysis: Daily, Weekly & Monthly - UPSC PDF Download

Towards a TB-Free India: Achievements, Challenges and the Way Forward

Context

India has made significant progress in its efforts to eliminate tuberculosis (TB), with a 17.7% decline in TB incidence from 2015 to 2023.

The National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (NTEP), aligned with the National Strategic Plan, is driving these efforts towards the goal of eliminating TB by 2025.

Supportive measures like the Ni-kshay Poshan Yojana and community engagement are crucial to achieving this target.

India’s Journey Towards Tuberculosis (TB) Elimination

• India achieved a 17.7% decline in TB incidence from 2015 to 2023, which is more than twice the global average decline of 8.3%, according to the WHO Global Tuberculosis Report 2024.
• This success is attributed to the National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (NTEP), aimed at eliminating TB by 2025.

Strategies and Goals for Ending Tuberculosis in India

• SDG Target 3.3:
  • Aims to end epidemics of tuberculosis by 2030.
  • India targets to meet the End TB goal by 2025, five years ahead of the SDG deadline.
• Key Indicators for India’s TB elimination target:
  • 80% reduction in TB incidence (compared to 2015 levels).
  • 90% reduction in TB mortality (compared to 2015 levels).
  • Zero TB-affected households experiencing catastrophic expenses due to TB.
• Political Commitment:
  • The Indian government first announced the commitment to end TB at the End TB Summit in 2018.
  • Reaffirmed at the One World TB Summit in Varanasi on World TB Day 2023.
  • India is a signatory to the Gandhinagar Declaration to accelerate TB elimination by 2030 in the South-East Asia region.

India’s Approach: National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (NTEP)

• Post-COVID-19 Efforts:
  • Intensified focus on TB elimination under NTEP, aligned with the National Strategic Plan (NSP) 2017-2025.
  • In 2023, around 1.89 crore sputum smear tests and 68.3 lakh nucleic acid amplification tests were conducted.
• Comprehensive Care:
  • Introduced shorter oral regimens for drug-resistant TB (DR-TB).
  • Decentralised services to reduce treatment delays.
  • Focused on addressing coexisting health conditions like malnutrition, diabetes, HIV, and substance abuse.

Strengthening Patient Care Through Supportive Services

• Financial Support:
  • Under Ni-kshay Poshan Yojana, Rs. 2,781 crores were disbursed to nearly 1 crore beneficiaries for nutritional support to TB patients.
• Community Engagement:
  • Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (PMTBMBA) launched in 2022, strengthening community participation.
  • Over 1.5 lakh Ni-kshay Mitras committed to supporting TB patients through awareness and advocacy.
• Incentives for Treatment Supporters:
  • Initiatives like TB Vijeta (TB champions) and ASHA workers were incentivized to support patients.

The Way Forward

• Future Interventions:
  • Conduct studies on adult BCG vaccination.
  • Rapidly scale up Tuberculosis Preventive Therapy (TPT), including shorter regimens.
  • Increase access to molecular diagnostic testing for all suspected TB cases.
  • Decentralise TB service delivery through “Ayushman Arogya Mandirs”.
  • Strengthen community-based patient support systems through PMTBMBA.

Conclusion

• India’s approach to TB elimination is showing positive results with a decline in TB incidence and a strengthened healthcare response.
• By emphasising cross-sector partnerships, innovative care solutions, and community engagement, India is well-positioned to meet its TB-free nation goal by 2025.