Global Tuberculosis Report Highlights Challenges

Summary of WHO Global Tuberculosis Report 2025

Key Statistics

• Global Impact of TB:

  • TB claimed 1.2 million lives and affected 10.7 million people in 2024.
  • 87% of TB patients were concentrated in 30 countries.
  • High burden countries:
    • India: 25%, Indonesia: 10%, Philippines: 6.8%, China: 6.5%, Pakistan: 6.3%, Nigeria: 4.8%, Democratic Republic of the Congo: 3.9%, Bangladesh: 3.6%.

• India's Progress:

  • TB incidence dropped by 21% from 237 per lakh population in 2015 to 187 per lakh in 2024.
  • Treatment coverage in India reached 92%, surpassing other high-burden countries.

Indian States with Highest TB Cases:

• Top States: Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh.
• Highest Prevalence Rate: Delhi.

Government Policies and Initiatives

• National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP):
  • Renamed from Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme (RNTCP) in 2020.
  • Aims to eliminate TB by 2025, ahead of the global 2030 target. The goal has since been missed due to ongoing challenges.

Challenges in TB Management

• Drug-Resistant TB: High burden remains a critical issue.
• Healthcare Infrastructure: Weakness in rural areas hampers treatment accessibility.
• Drug Stockouts: Claims of nationwide stockouts of anti-TB drugs have been officially refuted.
• Shortage of Trained Personnel: Affects proper diagnosis and treatment.
• Social Stigma: Impacts patient willingness to seek care.

Support and Screening Initiatives

• Implementation of 9,391 rapid molecular testing facilities and 107 culture & drug susceptibility testing laboratories.
• Over 500 AI-enabled chest X-ray units deployed, with 1,500 more on the way.
• Enhanced community screening through Ayushman Arogya Mandirs to decentralize care.
• Increased nutritional support via Ni-kshay Poshan Yojana (NPY), elevating Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) from ₹500 to ₹1,000 per month per patient.

Global TB Funding and Research

• Global Funding: Only $5.9 billion was available for TB prevention, diagnosis, and treatment in 2024, which is just over a quarter of the $22 billion annual target set for 2027.
• Research Funding: Lagged at $1.2 billion in 2023, meeting 24% of the target.
• Current Research:
  • 63 diagnostic tests in development.
  • 29 drugs in clinical trials.
  • 18 vaccine candidates undergoing clinical trials.

WHO Highlights

• Global TB mortality fell by 3% while illness rates declined by nearly 2% from 2023 to 2024.
• An estimated 83 million lives have been saved due to timely TB treatment since 2000.

This summary encapsulates critical aspects from the WHO Global Tuberculosis Report 2025 regarding TB incidence, government responses, ongoing challenges, and the international landscape of funding and research in tackling tuberculosis.