10 Facts On Why and How Tuberculosis Has To Be Eradicated From India!

India accounts for nearly one-fifth of the global TB incidence, with approximately 250,000 deaths annually despite the disease being curable. Poverty, malnutrition, smoking, and diabetes further aggravate the crisis.

Tuberculosis carries significant social stigma, often leading to discrimination. Affected individuals, including women and children, may face social exclusion, disrupted education, and forced displacement.

TB disproportionately affects impoverished and marginalized populations, especially individuals aged 15–54 years. While two-thirds of patients are male, young girls often suffer severe social consequences.

Drug-resistant TB variants such as MDR-TB, XDR-TB, and TDR-TB have emerged due to inadequate or incomplete treatment. These strains resist first-line and even second-line drugs, making treatment more complex and dangerous.

People living with HIV/AIDS are significantly more susceptible to tuberculosis. With over 2 million HIV infections in India, co-infection presents a major public health challenge.

India’s Ministry of Health launched RNTCP in 1997, achieving nationwide coverage by 2006. In partnership with civil society and supported by the Global Fund, Project AXSHYA aims to improve TB healthcare quality.

Key strategies include empowering communities, rational drug and diagnostic use, enhanced research and advocacy, public-private collaboration, and strengthened state and district-level healthcare systems.

Although WHO has banned serological tests for TB, they continue to be used in India despite being ineffective and costly. Smear microscopy under RNTCP remains a more reliable diagnostic method.

RNTCP introduced a comprehensive National Strategic Plan and standardized TB care guidelines to ensure universal access to quality diagnosis and treatment, aligned with international standards.

Eradicating TB requires expanded laboratory capacity, nationwide surveys, elimination of outdated testing methods, stronger public-private partnerships, introduction of new drugs, infection control, and supportive legislation.