At the End TB Summit, 2018, the prime minister of India made a bold commitment to end tuberculosis by 2025, 5 years ahead of the global target.
In this context, here is a look at the efforts currently underway and the way forward.
What implications does TB have?
India still has the highest TB burden in the world.
Despite the disease being fully curable, people still die from it.
TB usually affects people in their most productive years and drives families into debt.
It has a direct link to human suffering, discrimination and also poverty.
Due to its infectious spread, it directly affects the country’s economic growth as well.
What should the approach be?
The first step is the creation of awareness as though TB affects millions, a very few know enough about it.
People should be empowered with the necessary information to identify and recognise TB symptoms, and seek diagnosis and treatment.
There is thus a need for multilingual, multi-stakeholder awareness effort.
The next step is ensuring that all are provided with access to correct diagnosis and treatment for TB, regardless of the ability to pay for it.
This can only happen if the government works with the private sector as it did in the case of polio.
Even today, about half a million TB cases go unnotified, especially those seeking care in the private sector.
These missing cases should be tracked and ensured that those in need of care and treatment are able to access it.
Agents need to go door to door, identify TB patients, and provide each of them care with compassion.
What are the challenges?
A key challenge is building a forward-looking plan to address and control drug resistance.
This is a man-made menace that is a major roadblock in the fight against TB.
Every TB patient must be tested for drug resistance at the first point of care, whether in the public or private sector.
Every patient who is diagnosed late and does not receive timely treatment continues to infect others.
This cycle of transmission should be ended.
What are the measures in place?
Efforts are already on to create more labs, point of care tests, an assured drug pipeline, access to new drugs, and counseling support for those affected.
Recognising that medicines are not enough, the Nikshay Poshan Yojana was launched.
Under this, TB patients receive Rs 500 every month while on treatment.
This is to ensure that the patients have economic support and nutrition during the required period.
On September 25, 2019, the ‘TB Harega Desh Jeetega Campaign’ was launched to accelerate the efforts to end TB by 2025.
By employing a “multi-sectoral and community-led” approach, the government aims at building a national movement to end TB by 2025.
The government has accordingly increased resource allocation towards the TB Elimination Programme four-fold.
What should be done?
The government machinery at the field level should work with communities and provide free diagnosis and treatment to every affected individual.
There is also a need to look beyond treatment.
The country should involve all to fight the disease and end the stigma surrounding it.
Every patient should seek care that is free from discrimination and with dignity.
The community must act as a source of support for the patient, which could be achieved through education and awareness.
