India sees 38% drop in TB mortality since 2015: WHO report, Pg12

Key Highlights:

• India has achieved a 38% reduction in tuberculosis (TB) mortality since 2015, surpassing the global average of 35%.
• The World Health Organization (WHO)’s Global Tuberculosis Report 2026 highlighted India's 94% treatment success rate for drug-susceptible TB.
• Globally, 1.13 million people died from TB in 2025, with India accounting for approximately a quarter of new global TB cases.
• The South-East Asia Region recorded the largest number of new TB cases (35%) globally.
• India's TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan has successfully screened over 25 crore individuals.

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Detailed Insights:

• Around 88% of new TB cases worldwide are concentrated in just 30 countries, including India, Indonesia, the Philippines, and China.
• Globally, about 50% of people treated for TB and their households face catastrophic costs, defined as greater than 20% of total household income.
• Individuals with compromised immune systems due to HIV, undernutrition, diabetes, or tobacco use face a higher risk of contracting TB.
• Multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) continues to be a significant public health crisis and a global health security threat.
• India aims to eliminate TB by 2025, which is five years ahead of the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3.3 target of 2030.
• The National Strategic Plan for Tuberculosis Elimination (NSP 2017-2025) guides India's efforts, structured around four pillars: Detect, Treat, Prevent, and Build (DTPB).
• The Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan, launched in September 2022, seeks to foster community support and accelerate progress towards TB elimination through initiatives like Ni-kshay Mitra.
• The Nikshay Poshan Yojana, initiated in April 2018, provides a monthly financial incentive of ₹1000 to TB patients for nutritional support throughout their treatment.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Tuberculosis (TB): An infectious disease caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis, primarily affecting the lungs but capable of impacting other body parts.
• Multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB): A form of tuberculosis caused by bacteria that are resistant to at least isoniazid and rifampicin, the two most effective anti-TB drugs.
• TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan: A nationwide campaign launched by the President of India to galvanize community involvement and provide support to TB patients to achieve TB elimination by 2025.
• Nikshay Poshan Yojana: A direct benefit transfer scheme by the Indian government that provides monthly financial assistance for nutritional support to all notified TB patients.