Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Anupriya Patel said that in 2023 and 2024, India reported cases of 25.5 lakh and 26.07 lakh tuberculosis (TB), in which the highest number of notified cases were identified.

Highlighting India’s achievements in TB control and innovation, Patel revealed that the cases have increased, events and mortality have declined. The incident rate fell from 17.7% (in 2015 from 237 per lakh to 2023 per lakh to 195). During the same period, TB’s death also decreased by 21.4%. The missing TB cases have come down from 15 lakh (2015) to 2.5 lakh (2023).

In 2015, tuberculosis treatment coverage rose from 53% to 85% in 2023, revealing that he inaugurated the leading solution to India Innovation Summit to end TB at the Bharat Mandapam Convention Center on Tuesday.

The government has introduced several new initiatives and remedies to improve TB care:

• Better drug resistant TB treatment: A small and safe oral drug diet with Bedquelin has reduced the success rate of treatment from 68% in 2020 to 75% in 2022.
• Advanced treatment for drug resistant TB (MBPAL Regimeen): This new therapy is 80% more effective and reduces the duration of treatment by only 6 months.
• Nutritional support for TB patients: Under the post of Ni-Khase, financial assistance for TB patients has doubled from Rs 500, which has become Rs 1,000 per month (effective from 1 November, 2024).
• Community support through NI-Kshay Mitra initiative: The program provides food baskets and additional assistance to TB patients and their families.
• TB Mutt Bharat 100 days intense campaign: Covering 455 districts on December 7, 2024, this initiative focuses on initial diagnosis, discovery of active case and nutritional support.

Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), India’s Medical Panel has introduced several innovations to detect TB and improve diagnosis:

• Handheld X-Ray device: These portable devices enable TB screening in remote areas with low radiation risk.
• AI-Invented Chest X-Ray Analysis (DeepcxR): The Institute of Plasma Research, developed with Ahmedabad, this tool gives speed to TB detection.
• Cytb skin test for latent TB: A cost -effective option for expensive IGRA testing.
• Pathodetectm naat test: This new molecular test can simultaneously detect TB and drug resistance, making the diagnosis rapidly and more efficient.
• Quantiplus MTB Fast Detection Kit: A new low -cost RTPCR test for TB developed in India with 86% sensitivity and 96% specificity.

In this event, Dr. Niti Aig (Health) Member Dr. VK Paul highlighted India’s commitment to eliminate five diseases over the next five years: leprosy, lymphatic filariasis, measles, rubella and black-agar. He also emphasized the role of AI (Artificial Intelligence) in TB detection and the need for scalable innovation.

Director General of ICMR Dr. Rajiv Bahl said that India is developing rapid and more accurate diagnosis, better treatment and AI-based identity equipment to strengthen TB control efforts.

The progress report of TB Mutt Bharat Abhiyan will be released on World TB Day, March 24, 2025.