Mumbai doubles TB cure rates to 80% over years

Mumbai has announced significant progress in the fight against tuberculosis (TB) on the eve of World TB Day. The cure rate for multi-drug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) has doubled to 80% over the past eight years. This is seen as a major improvement, especially since TB-related deaths in Dharavi have fallen from 15% to 5%. BMC officials attribute the rise in cure rates to expanded diagnostic services, new medication plans, and better nutritional support for patients. Mumbai faces a high burden of MDR-TB, with around 5,000 new cases reported annually. MDR-TB is more challenging than regular TB, requiring longer treatments with more drugs and injections. However, the BMC plans to launch a shorter treatment option called BPaL soon. Another positive sign is that despite doubling the number of TB tests conducted in 2024 compared to 2023, the number of detected cases has not increased dramatically. This suggests that the TB infection rate in Mumbai might be stabilizing, according to civic health officer Dr. Daksha Shah. The BMC has improved detection methods by introducing rapid tests like CBNAAT and TrueNat. These tests can identify MDR-TB within hours, reducing the time patients spend without effective treatment. There are also 31 clinics dedicated to drug-resistant TB, ensuring patients start treatment immediately after testing. In terms of statistics, the number of diagnosed TB cases in Mumbai was 65,747 in 2022. This number dropped by 3% to 63,575 in 2023 and further to 60,633 in 2024. However, within Mumbai, there was a 7% increase in patients between 2023 and 2024, which officials believe may result from increased testing efforts.