The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare recently launched the annual Tuberculosis (TB) Report 2020, highlighting India’s commitment to eliminating TB from the country by 2025. The ambitious goal is five years ahead of the global target set by the World Health Organization (WHO).
National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (NTEP)
The Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme (RNTCP) has been renamed to align with India’s ambitious target. It is now known as the National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (NTEP).
State TB Index Key Points
The report provides a State TB Index where Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh emerge as the top three states for tuberculosis control in categories with a population over 50 lakh. In contrast, Tripura and Nagaland excel in categories with less than 50 lakh population. The best performing Union Territories are Dadra and Nagar Haveli, and Daman and Diu.
Rising Tobacco Consumption Among TB Patients
Disconcertingly, the report revealed a rise in tobacco consumption among Indian TB patients. Approximately 8% of TB cases can be attributed to tobacco usage.
HIV and TB Co-Infection
Individuals living with HIV are particularly vulnerable to TB. India accounts for 9% of all HIV-associated TB deaths globally, which is the second-highest number worldwide. Annually, there are about 92,000 HIV-associated TB patients in India.
Diabetes and TB Co-Infection
The report also found that 20% of all TB cases in India involve patients suffering from diabetes.
Issues with Patient Notification
The notification of TB remains a significant hurdle in disease surveillance. Approximately 0.54 million TB cases remain unreported across India.
Treatment Success Rates and Fatality
The TB treatment success rate is between 70-73% in the last two years, a decrease from the 76-77% rate observed from 2014-2016. The fatality rate from TB stands at 79,144 deaths as of 2019, much lower than the WHO’s estimated 4.4 lakh fatalities.
Indian Initiatives Against TB
Efforts against TB include the Nikshay Ecosystem, which is a national TB information system, the Nikshay Poshan Yojana (a scheme providing financial support for TB patients’ nutrition), the TB Harega Desh Jeetega Campaign, and the Saksham Project, which offers psycho-social counselling to DR-TB patients.
About Tuberculosis
TB is a bacterial disease that primarily affects the lungs and is spread through the air. Symptoms include coughing with sputum and blood, chest pains, weakness, weight loss, fever and night sweats.
MDR-TB and XDR-TB
Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) is a form of TB resistant to first-line anti-TB drugs, and extensively drug-resistant TB (XDR-TB) does not respond to the most effective second-line anti-TB drugs.
Way Forward
The report concludes that robust efforts are needed to improve early and accurate diagnosis followed by prompt appropriate treatment. This includes expanding the laboratory network and diagnostic facilities, greater private sector involvement, fighting stigma, engaging in advocacy, and increasing communication and social mobilization.
