India’s National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (NTEP) has made strides in the fight against tuberculosis (TB) in 2023. The program has successfully implemented a range of strategies to detect and treat TB cases, reduce mortality, and prevent the spread of the disease. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has issued the Inida TB Report 2024 reflecting on the past year.
Key Achievements in 2023
India achieved a case notification rate of approximately 179 cases per lakh population, narrowing the gap to 0.2 million cases.
The country witnessed a 16% decline in TB incidence and an 18% reduction in TB mortality since 2015.
The NTEP conducted over 1.89 crore sputum smear tests and 68.3 lakh nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs) to ensure timely and accurate diagnosis.
The program focused on reducing treatment delays and improving the quality of care for TB patients, including those with drug-resistant TB. The NTEP scaled up TB preventive treatment (TPT) to protect vulnerable populations and prevent the emergence of new TB cases.
The Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan mobilized community support and encouraged active participation in TB prevention and control efforts.
The NTEP has also addressed challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and other comorbidities such as diabetes, HIV, and malnutrition. The program has implemented strategies to mitigate the impact of these factors on TB control.
India remains committed to its goal of eliminating TB by 2025. The NTEP will continue to strengthen its efforts by:
- Expanding access to quality diagnosis and treatment services.
- Enhancing surveillance and monitoring systems.
- Promoting community engagement and social support for TB patients.
- Collaborating with other stakeholders to address the social determinants of TB.
