India aims to eliminate tuberculosis and five diseases

India is working hard to eliminate tuberculosis and several other diseases, according to VK Paul, a member of the NITI Aayog. These diseases include leprosy, lymphatic filariasis, measles, rubella, and kala azar. Paul made these comments at the India Innovation Summit focused on ending tuberculosis. He highlighted the goal of reducing tuberculosis (TB) cases by 80% and TB-related deaths by 90% by the year 2050. He noted that TB is a complicated disease, often hard to detect, with drug-resistant strains posing significant challenges. Paul emphasized that technology could play a crucial role in improving detection and treatment methods. Paul also mentioned the need for better tools to identify latent TB, which is when someone is infected but shows no symptoms and cannot spread the disease. In addition, he stated that India is aiming to significantly reduce malaria as well. Anupriya Patel, the Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, noted that India's public health has changed greatly in the last decade. She shared data showing a decrease in undetected TB cases in India, down from 15 lakh in 2015 to about 2.25 lakh in 2023. Patel reported that the national TB program has seen the highest number of reported cases recently, and the TB incidence rate has declined. From 2015 to 2023, TB deaths dropped by over 21%, and treatment coverage has markedly improved. She praised the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) for its efforts, including the development of new handheld X-ray devices for TB screening. ICMR is also using artificial intelligence to improve the detection of TB patients through new reporting tools and tests for latent TB. Rajiv Bahl, the Director General of ICMR, reinforced the commitment to eliminate TB, noting that research and innovation will be vital in this health initiative.