WHO data shows that India registered an 18% decline in TB incidence in the past 8 years
Bhaskar Parichha
The World Health Organisation’s (WHO) latest report on the global tuberculosis burden lists positives for India. The report acknowledges the progress made by the country in closing the gap between detected and undiagnosed cases in the past eight years. In 2023, India was estimated to have had 27 lakh TB cases, of which 25.1 lakh patients were receiving medication.
The fact that more than 85 percent of those suspected to have contracted the bacterial infection were under treatment is significant given the disease’s virulence — more than 50 percent of those who don’t fall under the medical system’s radar succumb to the infection. The report also lists successes in containing multi-drug resistant TB, signaling the efficacy of some of the recent interventions of the government.
WHO data shows that India registered an 18 percent decline in TB incidence in the past eight years. This is more than double the pace of decline compared to the global decline of 8 percent, the premier health agency suggests. However, at this pace, the country will find it difficult to realize its target of eradicating the disease by 2025. Despite the government’s commitment, challenges such as insufficient awareness, inadequate medical facilities, and under-nutrition continue to dog the TB elimination program.
Last year, a Lancet report pointed out that poor diet in adults contributes to 35 to 45 percent of all new cases annually, while undernutrition in patients with TB is a major risk factor for mortality. The government does have a scheme for nutritional support for patients with bacterial disease. Though the percentage of TB patients covered under the program has increased appreciably in the past six decades, experts say that the amount is too small to adequately benefit the economically disadvantaged.
Government data also shows that support continues to elude more than a fifth of the TB infected. A study published in PLOS Global Health last year noted that the families of a significant section of the TB-affected in India faced catastrophic costs. WHO estimates this figure to be as high as 20 percent. The global agency flags a significant fall in funding to eradicate the disease.
The government has shown a proactive stance in adapting its tuberculosis elimination program to better meet the needs of the population. This flexibility is crucial, especially in light of the ongoing challenges posed by tuberculosis, a disease that continues to affect millions in India. One of the key strategies that could enhance the effectiveness of this program is the integration of health insurance initiatives specifically tailored for tuberculosis patients.
By making health insurance accessible to those diagnosed with tuberculosis, particularly individuals suffering from the more aggressive strains of the disease, the government can ensure that these patients receive timely and adequate medical care.
Aggressive strains of tuberculosis, such as multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB), require more intensive treatment regimens, which can be prohibitively expensive for many patients. Access to health insurance would alleviate the financial burden on these individuals, enabling them to seek necessary treatments without the fear of incurring crippling medical expenses.
(The author is a senior journalist and columnist. Views expressed are personal.)
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