The recently released World Tuberculosis Report by the World Health Organization states that India has ensured high treatment coverage among people suffering from tuberculosis and has also achieved a significant increase in the number of people receiving preventive therapy. Preventive treatment is given to people who are at higher risk of infection, such as household contacts of tuberculosis patients and people living with HIV. They receive isoniazid, the most widely used preventive treatment for tuberculosis worldwide, daily for 6 to 9 months.
Data from the World Tuberculosis Report shows that 12.2 lakh people received preventive therapy in 2023, up from 10.2 lakh in 2022 and 4.2 lakh in 2021.
India has also ensured 85% treatment coverage and is one of seven of the 30 countries with high treatment coverage. This is important considering that tuberculosis is the leading infectious cause of death and, without treatment, kills approximately half of the people who become infected. In India, the government provides free medicines to treat tuberculosis, which is essential as the medicines can be expensive and treatment can last up to two years. Tuberculosis patients may not be able to work during the treatment period and may therefore be deprived of income.
The data showed that treatment was successful in 89% of people with drug-susceptible tuberculosis, in 73% of people with infection resistant to one or more of the common drug, rifampicin, and in 69% of people with extremely drug-resistant tuberculosis. A major challenge in treating tuberculosis is the long period during which people must continue taking their medications. With treatments lasting years, compliance can be poor. The government is working on innovative ways to ensure compliance, such as pill boxes that track and remind patients to take medications, as well as introducing shorter treatments.
India saw a slight decline in the projected number of tuberculosis cases and deaths in 2023, but is nowhere near its elimination target, according to the WHO report. It is estimated that in 2023 there were 28 lakh cases of tuberculosis in India, accounting for 26% of global cases. And an estimated 3.15 lakh TB-related deaths occurred, accounting for 29% of global deaths. The report also says the gap between the estimated number of cases and the number of people actually diagnosed is narrowing. India recorded 25.2 lakh cases in 2023, up from 24.2 lakh last year.
