Question : Increase in TB due to COVID-19

a) Whether the Government will be able to achieve its set target of eliminating all tuberculosis (TB) cases by 2025,
b) Whether the number of tuberculosis cases have enhanced after the COVID-19 pandemic, if so, the details thereof along with the study conducted, if any, in this regard to assess the same,
c) Whether the Government has undertaken any special step to manage the TB crisis in the country amidst the pandemic and rising malnutrition cases, if so, the details thereof,
d) Whether the Government has issued advisory to State/UTs to conduct tuberculosis test on patients having continued symptoms of cough after the COVID-19 disease, if so, the details thereof, and
e) Whether the Government proposes to encourage women’s participation in elimination of TB by training and engaging more women to work at health facilities in the State/UT engage to take a lead in the fight against TB, if so, the details thereof and steps being taken in this regard?

THE MINISTER OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
(DR. BHARATI PRAVIN PAWAR)


a) & (b) The Government has made steady progress towards achieving the target for elimination of Tuberculosis (TB) across the country by 2025. As per the Global TB Report, 2021 by the World Health Organization, the TB Incidence in India has reduced from 217/lakh population in 2015 to 188/lakh population in 2020.

The number of TB cases reported under the National TB Elimination programme are as under:

Year Number of TB Notifications (In lakhs)
2019 24.04
2020 18.05
2021 21.38


c) Government has taken the following steps during the pandemic:

i. Provision of free TB drugs of extended duration and door-step delivery Guidance on ensuring uninterrupted functioning of TB diagnostic laboratories.
ii. Issuing advisories to States and districts to ensure uninterrupted services during COVID-19
iii. Guidance for Bi-directional TB-COVID screening and screening of TB among ILI/SARI cases issued to State/UTs.
iv. Multiple reviews with State Government to monitor progress in implementation of National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP).

d) Government has issued an advisory to State/UTs to screen all COVID patients for TB if they have continued symptoms of cough after COVID-19 disease. The same may be accessed at the following link:
https://www.mohfw.gov.in/pdf/ClinicalGuidanceforManagementofAdultCovid19Patientsupdatedason17thJanuary2022.pdf

e) The Ministry has released a National Framework for a gender-responsive approach to TB in India. In addition, training package has been developed for training community volunteers and TB survivors as TB champions, in which women participation is encouraged.