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Dr. Kuldeep Singh Sachdeva, former head of India’s TB elimination program at the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, underscored on Saturday that missing cases of Tuberculosis (TB) coupled with diagnostic and treatment delays pose significant challenges to India’s mission to eradicate the deadly infection by 2025.
The latest global research, published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases journal, revealed that tuberculosis incidence in India witnessed only a marginal decrease of 0.5 percent between 2015 and 2020. Despite efforts, India’s TB incidence in 2020 stood at 213 cases per one lakh population, with deaths ranging between 3.5-5 lakh, both figures remaining well above the targeted levels.
Dr. Kuldeep, currently serving as the President and Chief Medical Officer of Molbio Diagnostics in Goa, emphasized the critical role of early diagnosis and treatment in curbing TB transmission. “Ending TB is not possible without reaching all cases in the community, diagnosing them early, and treating and supporting them towards a cure,” he stated.
To address missing TB cases, Dr. Kuldeep advocated for raising public awareness and promoting health-seeking behavior. Additionally, he recommended screening with sensitive tools like ultraportable X-rays, which can be deployed closer to communities for improved accessibility.
Highlighting the importance of rapid molecular diagnostic tests, Dr. Kuldeep emphasized their role in early diagnosis and subsequent treatment initiation within 24-48 hours, crucial for interrupting disease transmission effectively.
“Universal screening and deployment of point-of-care rapid diagnostics have the potential to diagnose cases early in the disease process,” Dr. Kuldeep explained, noting the importance of rapid molecular diagnostic tests as the initial diagnostic tool as per the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines.
While acknowledging progress in the use of molecular tests in India, Dr. Kuldeep stressed the country’s need to optimize their potential to combat TB effectively.
India’s commitment to achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for TB by 2025 is evident, with various initiatives underway. However, sustained efforts are required to address the persistently high burden of TB cases in the country.
As India navigates its path towards TB elimination, Dr. Kuldeep’s insights serve as a timely reminder of the challenges that lie ahead and the imperative for continued collaborative efforts to realize the goal of a TB-free India by 2025.
