India plans to eradicate Tuberculosis by 2025

New Delhi: India's government has devised a national plan to eradicate tuberculosis (TB) from the country by the year 2025, the country's junior health minister informed parliament.

In a written reply in the parliament's upper house Rajya Sabha Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Ashwini Kumar Choubey said "The Ministry has developed the National Strategic Plan (NSP) for Tuberculosis (2017-2025) with the goal of ending TB by 2025."

According to the World Health Organization's (WHO) "Global TB Report 2018", the estimated number of TB cases in India was 27,40,000 in 2017, which amounts to an incidence of 204 per 100,000 population.

"The Government has plans to use artificial intelligence (AI) for addressing various issues in TB like AI assisted TB Smear Microscopy and X-Ray in screening for TB. Also AI is being explored for monitoring treatment adherence and surveillance of TB disease at State and District levels," he added

The NSP for eradicating the disease would focus on an early diagnosis of all the TB patients, prompt treatment with quality assured drugs and treatment regimens along with suitable patient support systems to promote adherence.

Besides, the NSP would also focus on engaging with the patients seeking care in the private sector, and prevention strategies including active case finding and contact tracing in high risk/vulnerable population, said the official.