Context:

The World Health Organization’s (WHO) Global Tuberculosis Report 2025 reveals that India continues to bear the world’s highest TB burden, accounting for 25% of global cases. However, India’s TB incidence has fallen by 21% since 2015, from 237 to 187 cases per lakh population, nearly double the global decline (12%).

About the Global TB Report 2025:

It is an annual global assessment of tuberculosis trends, covering incidence, mortality, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment at global, regional, and national levels, published by WHO.

Global Trends in Tuberculosis:

·         Global Incidence:

o    TB incidence fell by 1.7% between 2023–2024, reaching 131 cases per 100,000 population.

o    Indicates recovery from pandemic-related disruptions.

·         Regional Patterns:

o    Decline continued in Africa, South-East Asia, Eastern Mediterranean, and Europe.

o    Americas witnessed a fourth consecutive rise, mainly due to under-detection and health system disruptions.

·         Geographical Burden:

o    South-East Asia: 34%

o    Western Pacific: 27%

o    Africa: 25% of global TB cases.

·         High-Burden Countries:

o    Top contributors (67% of global cases):

§  India (25%)

§  Indonesia (10%)

§  Philippines (6.8%)

§  Followed by Pakistan, Bangladesh, China, Nigeria, and South Africa.

·         Drug Resistance:

o    MDR-TB remains a major global threat.

o    Progress in detection and treatment remains uneven across regions.

·         Funding Gap:

o    Global TB financing stagnant since 2020.

o    Donor reductions (2025 onwards) risk undermining national TB programmes.

Tuberculosis Trends in India:

·         Incidence Rate:

o    Declined from 195 (2023) → 187 per 100,000 (2024).

o    Overall, 21% reduction since 2015, compared to 12% global decline.

·         Mortality:

o    TB deaths reduced from 28 per 100,000 (2015) → 21 per 100,000 (2024).

o    Still short of the 2025 national target: 3 per 100,000.

·         Drug Resistance:

o    India accounts for 32% of global MDR-TB cases, though incidence is slowly declining.

Key Initiatives to Reduce TB:

Global Level:

1.       End TB Strategy (2015–2035):

o    WHO’s global roadmap to cut TB deaths by 90% and incidence by 80% by 2030.

2.      UN High-Level Meetings (2018 & 2023):

o    Renewed global commitments to funding, universal care, and vaccine innovation.

3.      Global Fund & Stop TB Partnership:

o    Support resource mobilisation, research, and cross-border collaboration.

4.     New WHO Guidelines (2024–25):

o    Updated frameworks for rapid diagnosis, MDR-TB management, and TB–diabetes comorbidity.

India Level:

1.       National Strategic Plan for TB Elimination (2017–2025):

o    Targets 80% incidence reduction and 90% mortality reduction by 2025.

2.      Ni-kshay Poshan Yojana:

o    Nutritional support of ₹1,000/month to TB patients via Direct Benefit Transfer.

3.      Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan (2024):

o    Promotes community engagement and corporate partnership through “Ni-kshay Mitra”.

4.     Expanded Diagnostics:

o    Deployment of Truenat, CBNAAT, and AI-based diagnostic tools for rapid case detection.