India saw dip in TB cases & deaths in 2023, but target still far: WHO report

• India has ensured high treatment coverage among people diagnosed with tuberculosis and also achieved a significant increase in the number of people receiving preventative therapy, says Global TB Report.

Highlights:

High Treatment Coverage and Preventative Therapy:

• The World Health Organization’s Global TB Report highlights India’s success in expanding treatment and preventative measures for tuberculosis (TB). India has ensured high treatment coverage for diagnosed patients and increased access to preventative therapy, especially for those at high risk of infection.

Preventative Treatment for High-Risk Groups:

• Preventative therapy, primarily using Isoniazid, is provided to high-risk groups like household contacts of TB patients and individuals with HIV. This treatment lasts for 6–9 months and is crucial for preventing TB spread. The report notes a rise in preventative therapy recipients in India, with 12.2 lakh people receiving it in 2023, up from 10.2 lakh in 2022 and 4.2 lakh in 2021.

Treatment Coverage Among High-Burden Countries:

• India’s treatment coverage stands at 85%, placing it among seven high-burden countries achieving high coverage. TB remains the deadliest infectious disease, often fatal without treatment. In India, the government offers free TB medicines, crucial for many patients as treatments can be costly and last up to two years, affecting their income due to potential work limitations.

Success Rates and Challenges in TB Treatment:

• The report reveals India’s treatment success rates:
  • 89% success in drug-susceptible TB cases
  • 73% success in drug-resistant cases
  • 69% success in extremely drug-resistant TB cases
• One major challenge is the long treatment duration, leading to poor compliance. To address this, the government has introduced innovative solutions like pill boxes with reminders and shorter treatment courses to enhance adherence.

Progress and Challenges Towards TB Elimination:

• While India saw a slight decrease in estimated TB cases and deaths in 2023, the elimination target remains distant. India recorded:
  • 28 lakh estimated TB cases, contributing to 26% of global cases
  • 3.15 lakh TB-related deaths, making up 29% of global TB deaths
• Efforts have also closed the gap between estimated and diagnosed cases, with 25.2 lakh diagnosed in 2023, up from 24.2 lakh in 2022.
• India’s approach to TB treatment and prevention reflects significant progress, yet challenges like compliance and disease burden highlight the need for sustained and innovative efforts towards TB elimination.

Prelims Takeaways

• preventative measures for TB