India’s Ambitious Goal of a TB-Free Nation by 2025: Achievements, Challenges, and the Path Ahead.
New Delhi:
A spokesperson of government stated that India’s concerted efforts to eliminate tuberculosis (TB) have garnered global recognition, with the World Health Organization (WHO) reporting a 17.7% decline in TB incidence from 2015 to 2023, surpassing the global average decline of 8.3%. This achievement highlights the success of India’s National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (NTEP), which aims to eradicate TB by 2025—five years ahead of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target for 2030.
“The Government of India’s strategy combines advanced diagnostic tools, comprehensive patient care, and a multi-sectoral approach. In 2023, NTEP expanded its reach with nearly 1.89 crore sputum smear tests and 68.3 lakh nucleic acid amplification tests, underscoring its commitment to accessible and timely diagnosis” he added.
“Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s pledge to eliminate TB by 2025, first made during the End TB Summit in 2018, has been a driving force behind the initiative. The program’s achievements are bolstered by the introduction of shorter oral regimens for drug-resistant TB (DR-TB) patients, expanded TB preventive treatment, and a collaborative effort to tackle co-existing health challenges such as malnutrition, diabetes, and HIV” he said.
“The Ni-kshay Poshan Yojana, which provides direct financial support to TB patients, and the Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (PMTBMBA), launched in 2022, are pivotal in strengthening patient care and community involvement. The latter has seen widespread support, with over 1.5 lakh volunteers committing to assist TB-affected individuals” he asserted.
“Looking forward, India is set to further accelerate its efforts with new interventions, including studies on adult BCG vaccination, scaling up TB Preventive Therapy (TPT), and increasing access to molecular diagnostics. Decentralizing TB care and enhancing community-based support systems remain key priorities as India aims to fulfill its vision of a TB-free nation by 2025” he remarked.
“With continued political commitment, innovative healthcare solutions, and a focus on community mobilization, India is poised to make significant strides toward TB elimination, setting a strong example in global health initiatives” he added.
