Govt Fast-Tracks TB Elimination: More Drugs, Better Detection, Free Treatment

The Indian government is implementing a plan to ensure states and Union Territories (UTs) maintain at least six months’ stock of tuberculosis (TB) drugs and diagnostic kits at all times. Currently, all states hold a three-month supply, but officials aim to double this to accelerate TB elimination by year-end.

Intensified TB-Mukt Bharat Abhiyan

On December 7, 2024, the government launched a 100-day TB-Mukt Bharat Abhiyan. The campaign has already screened 110 million vulnerable individuals across 455 districts. More than 400,000 TB patients have been notified and started on treatment, adding to the 2.6 million patients notified in 2024.

Dr. Urvashi B. Singh, deputy director general at the central tuberculosis division, stated that the government is focusing on subclinical or asymptomatic TB, which plays a major role in community transmission. Early detection and treatment will reduce mortality and break the transmission chain.

India has rolled out a six-month MDR-TB regimen, “BPaL” (Bedaquiline, Pretomanid, and Linezolid), known for its high success rate. The government provides these medicines free of cost in both public and private healthcare setups.

Nutritional And Financial Support For TB Patients

To support TB patients nutritionally, the government distributes food baskets to affected families. Under the National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP), patients receive ₹6,000 through direct benefit transfer (DBT)—₹3,000 at notification and ₹3,000 after two months.

With these measures, India aims to eliminate TB by 2025, five years ahead of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) deadline.

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