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In a concerted effort to combat tuberculosis (TB) in India, a community-based collective comprising TB survivors, experts, and advocates penned a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging expedited action to eliminate the disease ahead of World TB Day on March 24. Despite India’s commitment to eradicate TB by 2025, five years before the global target of 2030, the collective highlighted the significant burden of this infectious disease in the nation.
The collective, known as the Stop TB (SATB) initiative, emphasized the dire situation, with millions of individuals affected by TB annually and nearly 400,000 succumbing to the disease each year in India alone. Their missive underscored the urgent need for immediate measures to enhance access to free, accurate, and affordable TB diagnosis, particularly in remote and marginalized communities.
Key recommendations outlined in the letter included initiatives to bolster diagnostic capabilities through investments in diagnostic facilities, mobile testing units, and rapid and molecular testing technologies. Additionally, the SATB emphasized the critical importance of ensuring access to high-quality drugs and shorter treatment regimens, alongside measures to prevent stock-outs of essential medications in both public and private sectors.
Addressing pervasive challenges such as stigma, socioeconomic barriers, and out-of-pocket expenses, Ashna Ashesh, a public health professional, lawyer, and multidrug-resistant TB survivor, emphasized the pressing need for comprehensive support services and counselling for TB patients.
Furthermore, the SATB stressed the significance of nutrition in TB treatment, advocating for an increase in funding for the Nikshay Poshan Yojana scheme to a minimum of Rs. 2,000 per month from the current Rs. 500. Integration of mental health services into TB care was also highlighted as a crucial aspect of comprehensive treatment.
Chapal Mehra, Convenor of SATB, underscored India’s capacity to make significant strides in combatting TB, emphasizing the imperative of prioritizing the voices and needs of TB survivors in shaping policy and intervention strategies.
As India grapples with the persistent challenge of TB, the collective appeal to Prime Minister Modi serves as a clarion call for urgent action, underscoring the collective resolve to accelerate efforts towards ending TB and safeguarding the health and well-being of all citizens.
