India has the world’s largest burden of TB. Discuss in the light of India TB-Report 2019 and Global TB report 2019.

The WHO has released the Global TB report 2019.  The report provides a comprehensive and up-to-date assessment of the TB epidemic and progress in the response at global, regional and country levels for India. The report makes the following observations:

• The tuberculosis incidence rate in India has decreased by almost 50,000 patients over the past one year.
• India had 27.4 lakh TB patients which came down to 26.9 lakh in 2018.
• Incidence per 1,00,000 population has decreased from 204 in 2017 to 199 in 2018.
• The number of patients being tested for rifampicin resistance has increased from 32% in 2017 to 46% in 2018.
• The treatment success rate has increased to 81% for new and relapse cases (drug-sensitive) in 2017, which was 69% in 2016.

India TB Report

The India TB-Report 2019 notes that India is closest ever to covering all TB cases through the online notification system (NIKSHAY). The report notes that with the aim of universal access to free diagnostics and treatment services, state-of-the-art diagnostic tests and quality assured drugs have been extended to all patients seeking TB care.

Out of the estimated 2.69 million TB cases emerging in 2018, 2.15 million were reported to the Government of Indi. Thus leaving a gap of 5,40,000 patients who are going unreported.