While the country is committed to providing access to quality healthcare through its national programs and initiatives, India finds itself at a crossroads with one of the most infectious diseases in the world – tuberculosis (TB). The Covid-19 pandemic and the resulting diversion of healthcare resources on a massive scale has rolled back years of progress made by India in its mission to eradicate TB. This setback was further heightened by the Union Budget for FY 2023-24. Unlike its predecessor, which specifically allocated ₹36 billion for curtailing TB in the country, the latest budget makes no mention of TB or Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s declaration of having a ‘TB Mukt Bharat’ by 2025.
The world saw 1.6 million people succumbing to TB in 2021, making it the leading cause of death from infectious disease before Covid-19 surpassed it. Out of the 1.6 million, approximately 30% of the deaths occurred in India. This is an unacceptable number of casualties from a disease that is both preventable and curable. According to the 2022 World Health Organization (WHO) Global TB report, India saw a 10% increase in TB deaths in 2021. India also saw a drop in TB case detection and reported the highest burden of TB in the world, with an estimated 2.7 million cases annually. What can be attributed to this drop-in TB care?
The world saw 1.6 million people succumbing to TB in 2021, making it the leading cause of death from infectious disease before Covid-19 surpassed it. (AFP)(HT File)
The world saw 1.6 million people succumbing to TB in 2021, making it the leading cause of death from an infectious disease before Covid-19 surpassed it. (AFP)(HT File)
The pandemic lay bare the limitations of the Indian healthcare system. With resources diverted to tackle an unprecedented pandemic, TB diagnosis and treatment became less or the least priority. Limited access to healthcare facilities and lack of established surveillance systems are a few reasons giving rise to TB underreporting.
