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.
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.
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.
Also Read: Foxconn’s Ennoconn Enters India To Tap Industrial Automation Market
Solar energy led the surge, with 23.83 GW added in FY 2024–25, up sharply from…
The NIA on Thursday confirmed the successful Tahawwur Rana extradition from the United States. Rana…
British singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran has revealed his latest ambition—to acquire George Clooney’s original Batman costume.
Sunscreen is more than a summer essential-it's a crucial line of defense against skin cancer…
Slovakia has backed India’s bid for a permanent seat at the United Nations Security Council…
Vivek Wadhwa, CEO of Vionix Biosciences and a noted academic, entrepreneur, and author, made a…