UNION MINISTER ANUPRIYA PATEL LAUNCHES THE INDIA INNOVATION SUMMIT – ADVANCING SOLUTIONS TO ERADICATE TB

Union Minister Anupriya Patel Launches the India Innovation Summit – Advancing Solutions to Eradicate TB

Union Minister Anupriya Patel Launches the India Innovation Summit – Advancing Solutions to Eradicate TB

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Union Minister Inaugurates India Innovation Summit to Combat TB


New Delhi: Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Smt. Anupriya Patel, inaugurated the India Innovation Summit – Pioneering Solutions to End TB at the Bharat Mandapam Convention Centre today. The event, organized by the Department of Health Research–Indian Council of Medical Research (DHR-ICMR) and the Central TB Division (CTD) under the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoHFW), aims to accelerate India’s mission to eradicate tuberculosis (TB) by 2025.

India’s Progress in TB Control


Addressing the summit, Smt. Patel emphasized India’s significant achievements in TB control and the critical role of innovation in this effort. She credited the transformative changes in India’s public health sector over the past decade to the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, stating that many stakeholders have played a vital role in ensuring innovative healthcare solutions reach the grassroots level.

She highlighted the advancements of the National TB Elimination Program (NTEP), stating that the number of undiagnosed TB cases has dramatically decreased from 15 lakh in 2015 to 2.5 lakh in 2023. Additionally, the program recorded the highest-ever TB notifications, with 25.5 lakh cases in 2023 and 26.07 lakh in 2024.

Citing the WHO’s Global TB Report 2024, Smt. Patel noted that TB incidence in India declined by 17.7%, from 237 cases per lakh population in 2015 to 195 cases per lakh in 2023. TB-related deaths have also fallen by 21.4%, from 28 per lakh in 2015 to 22 per lakh in 2023. Furthermore, TB treatment coverage in India improved significantly, increasing from 53% in 2015 to 85% in 2023.

New Initiatives Under NTEP


Smt. Patel introduced new initiatives under the NTEP, highlighting the nationwide rollout of a shorter and safer oral Bedaquiline-based treatment for drug-resistant TB, which has increased success rates from 68% in 2020 to 75% in 2022. She also announced the introduction of the more effective mBPaL regimen (Bedaquiline, Pretomanid, Linezolid 300mg) for multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB), which boasts an 80% efficacy rate and reduces treatment duration to just six months.

She further underscored the Energy Dense Nutritional Support (EDNS) initiative, which provides undernourished TB patients with essential nutrition during the first two months of treatment. Additionally, she spoke about the Ni-kshay Mitra Initiative, which encourages community participation and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) contributions to support TB patients. The government has also doubled financial assistance under the Ni-kshay Poshan Yojana (NPY), increasing monthly nutritional support from ₹500 to ₹1,000 per patient, effective from November 1, 2024. The Ni-kshay Mitra Initiative has also expanded to include food baskets for both TB patients and their household contacts.

Intensified TB Eradication Efforts


Smt. Patel detailed the progress of the TB Mukt Bharat – 100 Days Intensified Campaign, launched on December 7, 2024, across 455 high-priority districts. This initiative focuses on resource mobilization, community awareness, early TB detection, timely treatment initiation, and linking patients to nutritional support. A report on the campaign’s outcomes will be released on World TB Day, March 24, 2025.

Innovations in TB Detection and Treatment


Smt. Patel emphasized the role of technology and innovation in India’s TB elimination efforts. The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has validated three indigenous handheld X-ray devices for TB screening, offering benefits such as portability, low weight, and minimal radiation exposure. These devices are currently being utilized in the 100-day accelerated program.

Additionally, ICMR, in collaboration with the Institute of Plasma Research, Ahmedabad, has developed DeepCXR, an AI-based tool for analyzing chest X-rays to detect TB early. Another major breakthrough is the CyTb skin test, developed by the Serum Institute of India, which has shown better performance than the widely used tuberculin skin test and offers a cost-effective alternative to the expensive Interferon Gamma Release Assay (IGRA) for detecting latent TB infections.

ICMR has also validated PathoDetect™, an indigenous molecular diagnostic Nucleic Acid Amplification Test (NAAT) capable of processing 32 tests simultaneously. This test detects both Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) complex and drug resistance to Rifampicin (RIF) and Isoniazid (INH) in a single step. Deployed in the 100-day program alongside the TruNat test, it has enhanced TB molecular diagnosis capacity.

Another indigenous innovation, the Quantiplus MTB FAST Detection Kit by Huwel Lifesciences, is the world’s first open-system RT-PCR kit for TB detection, validated by ICMR. This test has shown 86% sensitivity and 96% specificity compared to the gold standard liquid culture method. These cost-effective kits have the potential to expand TB molecular testing using over 3,300 RT-PCR machines originally deployed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Health Technology Advancements


Smt. Patel also mentioned that the Health Technology Assessment India (HTAIn) under the Department of Health Research (DHR) has evaluated several innovative TB technologies, including:

  • TruNat for TB diagnosis

  • BPAL/BPALM regimen for MDR-TB treatment

  • Techo+ for TB service management

  • AI-powered chest X-ray diagnostics

  • TMEAD, an adherence monitoring device for TB treatment


The Role of Innovation in TB Elimination


Smt. Patel emphasized that innovations are key to TB elimination, enabling faster diagnosis, more effective treatment, and better prevention strategies. She highlighted the importance of digital health, artificial intelligence, and data-driven approaches in identifying undiagnosed TB cases and ensuring early intervention. She urged innovators to continue developing new tools to help achieve India’s TB elimination goal.

Expert Insights on TB Eradication


Dr. V.K. Paul, Member of NITI Aayog, called the summit a crucial step toward achieving TB elimination through innovation. He emphasized the need for scalable technology solutions, streamlined regulatory approvals, and funding for promising innovations.

Dr. Paul also noted that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, India is not only working towards TB elimination but has also set a goal to eradicate five other diseases in the next five years:

  1. Leprosy

  2. Lymphatic Filariasis

  3. Measles

  4. Rubella

  5. Kala-azar


He reiterated that India's TB elimination efforts will have a global impact, benefiting other countries as well.

The Role of Research in TB Control


Dr. Rajiv Bahl, Secretary of DHR & Director General of ICMR, highlighted the pivotal role of research and indigenous technology in India's fight against TB. He stressed that scientific advancements in diagnostics, treatment, and AI-based tools have improved early detection and patient outcomes. He also emphasized the importance of collaboration among stakeholders to integrate these solutions into national TB programs.

Conclusion


The India Innovation Summit served as a crucial platform for bringing together experts, policymakers, and innovators to accelerate TB elimination efforts. With a strong focus on cutting-edge technology, research, and community engagement, India is poised to make significant strides toward eradicating TB and improving global public health.

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