India Unveils Model to Estimate Its Own Tuberculosis Burden

India has unveiled its own model to estimate the country’s tuberculosis (TB) burden instead of relying on global estimates from the World Health Organization (WHO). The model uses data collected from the first TB prevalence survey conducted in India in 2017-18. The results of the survey revealed that India’s TB incidence rate is lower than WHO’s estimate, while deaths from TB are also fewer. India has shared its findings on TB management and diagnosis with delegates from 40 countries during the Stop TB summit held in Varanasi.

India’s TB Incidence Rates and Mortality

According to India’s estimation, the country’s TB incidence rate is 196 per 100,000 populations, lower than WHO’s estimated 210 per 100,000 populations. In contrast, the estimated deaths from TB are 3.20 lakh, lower than WHO’s projected numbers of 4.94 lakh. Based on these statistics, India reported a TB mortality rate of 23 deaths per 100,000 people, which is lower than WHO’s estimate of 35 deaths per 100,000 people.

Impact of Pandemic on Missed TB Cases

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused an estimated four lakh missed TB cases in India during 2020 and 2021. However, with the implementation of new policies and models like this one, officials hope to counteract missed cases and prevent higher drug-resistant forms.

Factors Included in India’s Model

India’s new model makes use of data collected from several sources including private sector drug sales, subnational certification systems, and the Nikshay portal that maintains a record of tuberculosis patients and their treatment outcomes throughout India.

Importance of Notification for Proper Treatment

India has notified tuberculosis as a notifiable disease since 2012, making it essential to ensure proper treatment and reduce drug-resistant forms of TB. The officials report that the number of notifications from the private sector has increased from 4% to 25%, significantly improving the TB reporting system in India.

Singapore’s Strategies for Treating and Eliminating TB

Singapore has been making strides towards eliminating tuberculosis (TB), which remains endemic in the country, despite current treatment strategies being expensive both financially and biologically. TB disease is treated via a cocktail of drugs administered for at least four months, maximizing cure and minimizing relapse rates. Treatment is heavily subsidized by the Ministry of Health (MOH) in Singapore, and support is provided to those who face social and economic challenges that might hinder adherence.

Challenges Faced in Achieving Greater Treatment Completion Rates

While extensive efforts have been made to tackle TB through early diagnosis and treatment, persistent nonadherence to TB treatment can lead to isolation or compulsory treatment under Singapore’s Infectious Diseases Act (IDA). Coercive measures may paradoxically increase stigma, thus negatively affecting those from lower socioeconomic status households.

Development of New Vaccines Worldwide

The Bacillus Calmette-Guérin vaccine has been unsuccessful in becoming the next approved vaccine to tackle Tuberculosis. However, researchers remain optimistic about new vaccines in the pipeline, with six currently under Phase III clinical trials.

In conclusion, India’s development of its own model for estimating its tuberculosis burden marks a significant step towards understanding the true extent of the disease across India. With new policies and models like these being enacted worldwide, there is hope for progress in our fight against TB.

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