How is PM Modi praising health workers as India sees a historic drop in TB cases?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- India has achieved a 21% reduction in TB incidence since 2015.
- The country’s treatment coverage has surged to over 92% in 2024.
- India’s innovative strategies have helped decrease missing TB cases significantly.
- The TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan boasts a 90% treatment success rate.
- TB-related mortality has dropped from 28 to 21 per lakh population.
New Delhi, Nov 13 (NationPress) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday praised the extraordinary efforts of health workers in India's battle against Tuberculosis (TB), as the country reported a substantial decrease in TB cases, nearly double the global decline rate.
According to the latest WHO Global Tuberculosis Report 2025, India has achieved a noteworthy reduction in TB incidence since 2015, which is nearly twice the global average.
This decline represents one of the sharpest reductions observed globally.
The Prime Minister expressed his approval of the extensive treatment coverage across the nation and acknowledged the efforts of the departments involved in managing the disease.
"It is equally uplifting to see the expansion of treatment coverage, the reduction in 'missing cases', and the continued increase in treatment success rates. I commend everyone who contributed to this achievement," PM Modi stated.
"We are dedicated to ensuring a healthy and fit India," he added.
In a remarkable advancement, the incidence of TB (new cases reported each year) in India has experienced a sharp decline of 21 percent—from 237 per lakh population in 2015 to 187 per lakh population in 2024, as reported by the World Health Organisation (WHO) in its 'Global TB Report 2025'.
This decline is approximately double the global average of 12 percent.
The Health Ministry notes that India's innovative approach to case finding, which includes the rapid adoption of new technologies, decentralization of services, and extensive community mobilization, has led to an increase in treatment coverage to over 92 percent in 2024, up from 53 percent in 2015—resulting in 26.18 lakh TB patients diagnosed in 2024 out of an estimated incidence of 27 lakh cases.
As a result, the number of 'missing cases'—those who contracted TB but did not report—has decreased dramatically from an estimated 15 lakh in 2015 to fewer than one lakh in 2024.
Furthermore, the number of MDR TB patients in the country has not seen a significant rise. The TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan boasts a treatment success rate of 90 percent, exceeding the global treatment success rate of 88 percent.
Additionally, India has made significant progress in reducing TB-related fatalities, as evidenced by the decline in the TB mortality rate from 28 per lakh in 2015 to 21 per lakh in 2024.