India's Fast-Track Mission: Eliminating Tuberculosis by 2025

Prime Minister Modi reviewed India's fast-track initiatives under the National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme. Aiming to eradicate TB by 2025, the program has significantly reduced TB cases, emphasizing detection, treatment, and prevention. Through strategic collaborations and incentives, India is moving swiftly toward a TB-free nation.

In a pivotal meeting on Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spearheaded efforts to evaluate the advancements of India's tuberculosis (TB) elimination campaign. The gathering witnessed the presence of Union Health Minister JP Nadda and other key figures. The Government of India, under its National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (NTEP), has rolled out crucial strategies to combat this pervasive disease. These initiatives aim to enhance diagnosis, treatment, and prevention efforts, propelling progress towards a TB-free India.

The year 2020 marked a significant shift as the Indian government rebranded the Revised National Tuberculosis Control Program (RNTCP) to the National TB Elimination Program (NTEP). This change underscored India's ambitious goal of eradicating TB by 2025, a notable five-year advance on the global target set for 2030. According to the World Health Organization's Global TB Report, India has made remarkable strides, evidenced by a nearly 17.7% reduction in TB cases from 2015 to 2023. TB-related mortality rates have also decreased.

NTEP adheres to the National Strategic Plan (2017-2025), employing a holistic approach dubbed Detect - Treat - Prevent - Build (DTPB) to combat TB. The program achieved unprecedented case notifications, recording 25.5 lakh TB cases in 2023 and 26.07 lakh in 2024. Key actions include addressing the high-risk demographic through extensive house-to-house screenings, incentive-based support for ASHAs and TB caregivers, collaboration with various stakeholders, and a pioneering indigenous TB burden model that provides state-wise estimates.

(With inputs from agencies.)