GoI: TB Annual Report 2020

On June 24, 2020, the Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare Dr Harsh Vardhan released annual Tuberculosis (TB) report, 2020 through a virtual event. Along with the report, the minister also released the following

• A report on Joint Monitoring Mission
• Manual on Direct Benefit Transfer to TB patients under NIKSHAY Scheme
• A training module

Highlights

According to the report, around 24.04 TB patients were notified in the year 2019. This adds up to 14% as compared to 2018. The number of missing cases reduced from 10 lakhs in 2017 to 2.9 lakhs in 2019.

The notification of the private sector about patients suffering from TB increased from 6% in 2018 to 8% in 2019.

The proportion of children diagnosed with TB increased from 6% in 2018 to 8% in 2019. This was mainly because of the availability of molecular diagnostics. The provision of HIV testing for all the TB patients increased from 67% (in 2018) to 81% (in 2019).

NIKSHAY

The NIKSHAY programme was expanded to four Direct Benefit Transfer programmes. This included

• NIKSHAY Poshan Yojana to TB patients
• Incentive to private providers
• Transport incentives to the patients in tribal areas
• Incentive to treatment supporters

India’s Target

India is currently working towards the goal of eliminating TB by 2025. This target has been aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations. In order to achieve this, tuberculosis programme of India has been renamed from Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme to National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme.

Month: Current Affairs - June, 2020