Global TB report shows India continues to have highest disease burden: What does this mean for you?

There is an increase in the number of cases reported — a positive sign that the gaps in diagnosis are closing

Written by Anonna Dutt

New Delhi | Updated: October 30, 2024 10:26 PM IST

3 min read

The number of reported TB cases — actual number of people diagnosed to have the infection — increased to 25.1 lakh in 2023. (File Photo)

While India saw a slight decline in the estimated number of tuberculosis (TB) cases in 2023, there was an increase in the number of cases that were reported — a positive sign that the gaps in diagnosis are closing, according to the Global TB Report 2023 by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Globally, 82 lakh people were newly diagnosed with TB in 2023 – the highest number recorded since WHO began global TB monitoring in 1995 — making it the leading infectious killer again, surpassing Covid-19 in 2023. India also saw a decline in the estimated number of deaths due to the infection — from 3.31 lakh in 2022 to 3.2 lakh in 2023.

This, however, presents little cause for joy. Even though the country set the goal of eliminating TB by 2025 — five years ahead of the global target — it continues to have the highest burden of the disease, accounting for more than a quarter of the global cases.

WHERE IS INDIA ON TARGETS?

India is not even close to the WHO End TB targets. There has been a decline of only 18 per cent in TB cases between 2015 and 2023 as against the target of 50 per cent by 2025. TB deaths have declined by 24 per cent as against a target of 75 per cent by 2025, according to the report.

With an estimated 28 lakh cases, India accounted for 26 per cent of the global TB burden in 2023. India also accounted for 27 per cent of global multi-drug resistant tuberculosis. And, with 3.15 lakh deaths, the country accounted for 29 per cent of the global burden, according to the report.

The number of reported TB cases — actual number of people diagnosed to have the infection — increased to 25.1 lakh in 2023. “The two countries that made the biggest contributions to the global rebound in the reported number of people newly diagnosed with TB in 2022 and 2023 were India and Indonesia, which together accounted for 45 per cent of the increase between 2021 and 2023,” the report said.

Not only did India diagnose more cases, it also put 85 per cent of those diagnosed on treatment. Among the 30 countries with the highest burden of the infection, India is one of the top countries when it comes to high treatment coverage.

WHAT ARE FUNDING GAPS?

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The Global TB Report 2023 also highlights a massive funding gap, stating that only $ 5.7 billion of the $ 22 billion funding target was available in 2023.

When it comes to India, funding for TB has been shrinking, the report shows. The total funding for TB reduced from $ 432.6 million in 2019 to $ 302.8 million in 2023. When it comes to domestic funding alone, it went down from $ 345.9 million to $ 253 million.

WHAT ARE CATASTROPHIC COSTS?

The report, for the first time, also provides estimates of catastrophic health costs — spending of more than 20 per cent of the household income.

Just under 20 per cent of the population in India faced catastrophic total health costs, according to the report. To compare with its neighbours, around 1% of the population in Thailand, around 5% of the population in Pakistan and around 25% of the population in Bangladesh faced such catastrophic costs. Globally, among the households with TB, 49 per cent faced catastrophic costs. This is far above the WHO End TB Strategy target of zero, the report said.

Anonna Dutt

Anonna Dutt is a Principal Correspondent who writes primarily on health at the Indian Express. She reports on myriad topics ranging from the growing burden of non-communicable diseases such as diabetes and hypertension to the problems with pervasive infectious conditions. She reported on the government’s management of the Covid-19 pandemic and closely followed the vaccination programme. Her stories have resulted in the city government investing in high-end tests for the poor and acknowledging errors in their official reports. Dutt also takes a keen interest in the country’s space programme and has written on key missions like Chandrayaan 2 and 3, Aditya L1, and Gaganyaan. She was among the first batch of eleven media fellows with RBM Partnership to End Malaria. She was also selected to participate in the short-term programme on early childhood reporting at Columbia University’s Dart Centre. Dutt has a Bachelor’s Degree from the Symbiosis Institute of Media and Communication, Pune and a PG Diploma from the Asian College of Journalism, Chennai. She started her reporting career with the Hindustan Times. When not at work, she tries to appease the Duolingo owl with her French skills and sometimes takes to the dance floor. ... Read More

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disease health and food news Tuberculosis