The Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan is a significant mission launched recently to accelerate India’s battle against tuberculosis (TB). The vision of eliminating TB from India by 2025 comes right from the Prime Minister’s office, propelling this ambitious initiative.
Exploring Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis is an infectious disease triggered by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Although it majorly affects the lungs, other body parts can also be impacted. It is a treatable and curable ailment. Symptoms include cough with sputum, chest pains, weakness, weight loss, fever, and night sweats. The Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) is well known as the vaccine for TB. Globally, TB affected an estimated 10 million, and about 1.5 million people died from it in 2020. India bears the world’s highest TB burden with around 26 lakh people contracting the disease annually and about 4 lakh succumbing to it.
India’s Challenges in Controlling TB
Considerable hurdles in controlling TB in India include underdeveloped primary healthcare infrastructure, unregulated private healthcare, rampant poverty, lack of political will, and administration corruption. This scenario becomes more challenging with the widespread irrational use of first-line and second-line anti-TB drugs.
The Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan Initiative
This initiative aims to expedite India’s progress towards TB elimination by 2025. The objectives include enriching patient support to improve TB treatment outcomes, boosting community involvement, and leveraging Corporate Social Responsibility activities. A notable component of this initiative, the Ni-kshay Mitra Initiative, ensures additional diagnostic, nutritional, and vocational support for those undergoing TB treatment.
Other Related Initiatives Regarding Tuberculosis
Noteworthy global efforts to combat TB include the WHO’s joint initiative “Find. Treat. All. #EndTB” with the Global Fund and Stop TB Partnership, along with the regular release of the Global Tuberculosis Report. Nationally, India’s determination to end the TB epidemic by 2025, five years ahead of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) for 2030, strengthens its National TB Elimination Programme.
India’s Strategy and Vaccines
The National Strategic Plan (NSP) for Tuberculosis Elimination (2017-2025) and the Nikshay Ecosystem (National TB information system), are vital parts of India’s strategic arsenal against TB. The Nikshay Poshan Yojana provides direct benefit transfers to patients, while the TB Harega Desh Jeetega Campaign raises awareness around the disease. Two vaccines VPM 1002 and MIP are currently under Phase-3 clinical trials in India.
The Role of Technology in TB Elimination
Innovative use of technology is another critical aspect of India’s TB elimination manifesto. The Ayushman Bharat Digital Health Mission creates digital health IDs for TB patients to ensure appropriate diagnostics and treatment availability.
The Context of UPSC Civil Services Examination
An example of a previous year question from the UPSC Civil Services exam helps contextualize this analysis. A 2016 question asked about ‘Mission Indradhanush,’ an immunization scheme launched by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. This mission targets seven vaccine-preventable diseases including tuberculosis. Technically supported by organizations like WHO, UNICEF, Rotary International, and other donor partners, the mission contributes to the holistic battle against TB in India.
