2.1 million cases of tuberculosis in India annually

NEW DELHI: The incidence of tuberculosis disease in India is around 2.1 million cases annually as per the latest World Health Organisation ( WHO) estimates, the Lok Sabha was informed today.

"It is estimated that around 40 per cent of Indian population is infected with Mycobacterium Tuberculosis, the bacteria that causes TB in human beings, but the vast majority of them have latent TB infection rather than TB Disease," Health Minister J P Nadda said in a written reply.

According to latest WHO estimates, the incidence of TB disease in India is around 2.1 million cases annually, Nadda said.

He said that under the National Tuberculosis Control Programme (RNTCP), diagnosis and treatment facilities including anti-TB drugs are provided free of cost to patients.

Nadda said that designated microscopy centres have been established for quality diagnosis for every one lakh population in the general areas and for every 50,000 population in the tribal, hilly and difficult areas.

"More than 13,000 microscopy centres have been established in the country. More than six lakh treatment centres (DOT Centres) have been established near to residence of patients to the extent possible.

"All government hospitals, Community Health Centres (CHC), Primary Health Centres (PHC), sub centres are DOT centres. In addition NGOs, Private Practitioners (PPs) involved under the RNTCP, community volunteers, Anganwadi workers, women self-help groups and others also function as DOT providers/DOT Centres," he said.

The Health Minister said that Programmatic Management of Drug Resistant TB (PMDT) services for the management of multidrug resistant tuberculosis (MDRTB) and TBHIV are being implemented throughout the country.

"Under the universal immunisation programme, BCG vaccine is administered for prevention of serious forms of childhood TB, like tubercular meningitis," Nadda said.

He said that the government has also formulated standards for TB Care in India which lay down standards for social inclusion for TB, providing information to vulnerable groups and developing synergies with the social welfare schemes.