India Slashes TB Cases by 23% Over Past Decade

India has achieved a 23% reduction in tuberculosis cases and vastly minimized disease-related fatalities over the last ten years. Health officials are now mobilizing state leaders to maximize the closing weeks of a critical national eradication drive.

Union Health Minister J P Nadda announced on Friday that India secured a 23% reduction in tuberculosis incidence alongside a substantial drop in related mortality over the past decade. He directed states and Union Territories to accelerate efforts during the final stretch of the active 100-day TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan.

Leading a high-level review via video conference with state health ministers and top bureaucrats, Nadda noted that the campaign’s second phase concludes in early July 2026. He described this period as a vital last-mile initiative to locate missing cases and protect vulnerable groups.

Detailing national progress against the disease, Nadda stated India’s tuberculosis incidence fell to 187 cases per lakh population in 2024, down from 243 per lakh in 2014. Meanwhile, mortality rates decreased to 21 deaths per lakh in 2024 from 34 per lakh ten years prior.

According to health ministry data, medical teams screened more than 28.1 crore individuals for the illness. Additionally, nearly 20 lakh people accessed preventive therapies, and campaigns launched since December 2024 recruited over 5.7 lakh new Nikshay Mitras to support patients.

Nadda stated this drive changes the core strategy for controlling tuberculosis. Healthcare teams no longer wait for symptomatic individuals to visit clinics. Instead, workers actively enter villages, neighborhoods, and dense gathering spaces to diagnose high-risk individuals early.

The minister emphasized that the final days of this initiative are vital. He requested underperforming states to execute localized, district-level reviews. He also urged them to speed up diagnostic screenings among underserved populations.

The health chief highlighted the necessity of nutritional assistance to lower mortality rates and boost recovery metrics. He requested states to involve local lawmakers, including MPs and MLAs, to monitor constituency-level elimination efforts and foster community engagement.

During the session, administrative officials reported that the second phase deployed over 1.7 lakh Ayushman Arogya Shivirs. These specialized health camps successfully covered more than 1.20 lakh vulnerable villages, urban sectors, and crowded environments nationwide.

Future Outlook

The health ministry intends to transition these intensive screening methodologies into permanent public health protocols. By leveraging localized tracking data from the 100-day campaign, the government plans to deploy targeted medical resources to remaining high-burden districts, aiming for total eradication ahead of global timelines.

FAQs

What is the current reduction rate of tuberculosis in India?

India has decreased its tuberculosis incidence by nearly 23% over the past decade, lowering the case rate from 243 per lakh in 2014 to 187 per lakh in 2024.

What is the TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan?

It is an intensified national campaign designed to eliminate tuberculosis through proactive community screening, nutritional support, and public partnerships, with its second phase concluding in early July 2026.

How many people have been screened under this recent health drive?

Public health teams have screened more than 28.1 crore citizens for tuberculosis, while providing preventive medical treatment to approximately 20 lakh individuals.

What role do Nikshay Mitras play in the campaign?

Nikshay Mitras are community volunteers who provide vital diagnostic, nutritional, and emotional support to tuberculosis patients, with over 5.7 lakh individuals joining the movement since December 2024.