Tuberculosis (TB) is a global health crisis, and its impact is magnified by the persistent challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic and Multidrug-Resistant TB (MDR-TB). The World Health Organization’s Global Tuberculosis Report 2023 provides a comprehensive analysis of this global burden. This article examines the report’s findings, discusses welfare schemes for vulnerable populations, and suggests strategies for improvement.
Global TB Burden According to the Report 2023
The report highlights the severity of the TB crisis worldwide in 2022. India reported the highest number of TB cases globally, with 2.8 million cases, amounting to 27% of the global TB burden. Overall, TB was the second leading cause of death from a single infectious agent in 2022, only surpassed by Covid-19. It caused almost twice as many deaths as AIDS/HIV. Globally, over 10 million people fell ill with TB in 2022, and 30 high burden countries, including India, Indonesia, China, the Philippines, Pakistan, Nigeria, Bangladesh, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, accounted for 87% of the world’s TB cases.
Increased TB Diagnosis and Treatment
In 2022, a record-breaking figure of 7.5 million people were diagnosed with TB, the highest since the WHO started global TB monitoring in 1995. Despite the high death rate of 50% without treatment, the WHO-recommended course of anti-TB drugs can cure about 85% of TB patients within four to six months. Following two years of Covid-19-related disruptions, there was a global recovery in the number of people diagnosed with and treated for TB in 2022. Countries like India, Indonesia, and the Philippines accounted for over 60% of the global reductions.
The Rising Incidence Rate of TB
The TB incidence rate, which measures new cases per 100,000 population per year, increased by 3.9% between 2020 and 2022. This rise reversed the declining trend of about 2% per year that had been observed for most of the past two decades.
Findings Related to India
India had a case fatality ratio of 12%, indicating that 12% of TB cases resulted in death. About 3,42,000 TB-related deaths occurred in India in 2022, with 3,31,000 among HIV-negative individuals and 11,000 among those with HIV. The country recorded 1.1 lakh cases of MDR-TB in 2022, underlining the ongoing public health crisis caused by MDR-TB.
Recommendations of the Report
To end the global TB epidemic by 2030, a goal adopted by all Member States of the UN and the WHO, urgent action is required. Universal Health Coverage (UHC) is deemed crucial to ensure that all people requiring TB treatments can access them. Multisectoral action is also needed to address underlying factors such as poverty, malnutrition, HIV infection, smoking, and diabetes.
About Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, can affect practically any organ of the body but most commonly affects the lungs, pleura, lymph nodes, intestines, spine, and brain. It is an airborne infection transmitted through close contact with the infected, primarily in densely populated areas with poor ventilation. Symptoms include cough with sputum and blood at times, chest pains, weakness, weight loss, fever, and night sweats. While TB is treatable and curable, strains resistant to one or more medicines have been documented in every surveyed country.
Efforts to Combat TB
Global efforts to tackle TB include initiatives like WHO’s “Find. Treat. All. #EndTB” program and the Global Tuberculosis Report. India has implemented strategies such as the National Strategic Plan (NSP) for Tuberculosis Elimination, and the Nikshay Ecosystem, among others. In 2018, the government launched Nikshay Poshan Yojna that provides Rs 500 per month to TB patients for nutritional needs. Additionally, two vaccines for TB are currently in Phase-3 clinical trials.