India reported a slight decrease in the estimated number of tuberculosis (TB) cases and deaths in 2023, according to the Global TB Report released by the World Health Organisation.

Key Findings of the Report

• High Disease Burden: India continues to hold the highest global burden of TB, with over a quarter (26%) of the world’s cases, totaling approximately 28 lakh in 2023.
• Slight Decline in Cases and Deaths: Estimated cases and deaths dropped slightly in 2023, with deaths declining from 3.31 lakh in 2022 to 3.2 lakh in 2023.

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Progress and Shortfalls in Elimination Targets

• Targets Not Met: India’s progress falls short of WHO’s End TB goals, achieving only an 18% reduction in cases and 24% in deaths from 2015 to 2023, against the 50% and 75% targets, respectively.
• 2025 Elimination Goal: India aims to eliminate TB by 2025, ahead of the global goal, but significant challenges remain to meet this target.

Diagnosis and Treatment Coverage for TB

• Improved Reporting: India saw an increase in reported cases, reaching 25.1 lakh in 2023, indicating improvements in diagnosis.
• Treatment Rates: India put 85% of diagnosed patients on treatment, ranking high among the 30 countries with the highest TB burden.

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Funding Gaps in TB Management

• Global Funding Shortfall: The global funding for TB was only $5.7 billion of the $22 billion target in 2023.
• India’s Reduced Funding: TB funding in India decreased from $432.6 million in 2019 to $302.8 million in 2023, with domestic funding dropping from $345.9 million to $253 million.
• High Economic Impact: Nearly 20% of India’s population faced catastrophic health costs (expenses exceeding 20% of household income) due to TB.
• Comparative Costs: India’s rate is notably high compared to neighboring countries such as Thailand (1%) and Pakistan (5%). Globally, 49% of TB-affected households faced catastrophic costs, far above the WHO target of zero.

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