Decline in TB an outcome of India’s dedicated efforts: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said the decline in tuberculosis (TB) incidence is an outcome of India’s dedicated and innovative efforts, and asserted that “we will keep working towards a TB-free India” through a collective spirit.

Modi’s remarks came in response to a post of Union Health Minister JP Nadda in which he stated that the World Health Organisation (WHO) has recognised India’s remarkable progress — a 17.7 per cent decline in TB incidence from 2015 to 2023 - a rate more than double the global decline of 8.3 per cent.

“This acknowledgment reflects India’s transformative approach to TB care and control. Under the visionary leadership of PM Narendra Modi, our government has expanded and strengthened the National TB Elimination Programme by taking key initiatives such as the Ni-Kshay Poshan Yojana to provide essential nutritional support to TB patients and introduction of the BPaL regimen, a novel treatment for Multi-Drug Resistant Tuberculosis,” Nadda posted on X.

In 2023, India is estimated to have had 27 lakh TB cases, of which 25.1 lakh persons were diagnosed and put on treatment. The WHO report acknowledges that of the 30 high TB burden countries, India’s TB treatment coverage increased to 85 per cent in 2023 from 53 per cent in 2015.

In his post on X, Modi said, “Commendable progress! The decline in TB incidence is an outcome of India’s dedicated and innovative efforts. Through a collective spirit, we will keep working towards a TB-free India.”

However, the report has said that five countries accounted for 56 per cent of the worldwide total cases of tuberculosis of which India shares 26 per cent.

The other countries where the burden of TB cases is high include Indonesia (10 per cent), China (6.8 per cent), the Philippines (6.8 per cent) and Pakistan (6.3 per cent).