Towards a TB-Free India

Key Highlights:

• India achieved a 21% reduction in yearly emerging tuberculosis (TB) cases between 2015 and 2024, significantly exceeding the global decline of 12%.
• The country's TB treatment coverage stands at 92%, compared to the global average of 78%.
• The TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan has led to over 28.1 crore screenings and 20 lakh individuals receiving TB Preventive Treatment (TPT).
• The JOSH (Joint Squad for Health) campaign mobilises youth and communities for TB awareness, early detection, and treatment adherence.
• New initiatives include the shorter BPaLM regimen for drug-resistant TB and AI-driven tools like 'Khushi' chatbot and DeepCXR for screening.

Detailed Insights:

• India's progress in TB elimination is driven by a multi-pronged approach combining advanced technology, expanded local health services, and community engagement.
• The JOSH campaign involves MY BHARAT volunteers, National Cadet Corps cadets, and Class-I officers to spread awareness at the grassroots level.
• The Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan, launched in 2022, aims to provide additional support to TB patients, augment community involvement, and leverage Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).
• The Nikshay Poshan Yojana provides ₹1,000 monthly financial assistance to TB patients for nutritional support.
• Ni-kshay Mitras are volunteers (individuals, NGOs, corporations) who provide nutritional and psychosocial support to TB patients.
• The 100-Day TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan involved vulnerability mapping, systematic screening of high-risk populations, and active participation from elected representatives and line ministries.
• Ayushman Arogya Mandirs serve as community health centres for TB diagnosis and treatment under the broader Ayushman Bharat scheme.
• Technological infrastructure includes over 9800 rapid molecular testing facilities, 500+ AI-enabled handheld chest X-ray units, and the Ni-kshay digital platform for direct benefit transfer.
• AI initiatives like Cough Against TB (CATB) use acoustic AI for screening, while DeepCXR uses radiology AI for automated X-ray reading to identify presumptive TB cases.
• The National Strategic Plan to End TB in India 2020-25 focuses on four pillars: Build, Prevent, Detect, and Treat.

Key Concepts Involved:

• National TB Elimination Program (NTEP): India's renamed program (from RNTCP) aiming to eliminate TB before the global target of 2030.
• Ni-kshay Mitra: A volunteer (individual or organisation) providing nutritional, psychosocial, and vocational support to TB patients.
• BPaLM regimen: A new, shorter (6-month) and safer treatment regimen for drug-resistant TB patients, comprising Bedaquiline, Pretomanid, Linezolid, and Moxifloxacin.
• Jan Andolan: A people's movement or mass mobilisation approach, crucial for community participation in health initiatives like TB elimination.