Resource Optimisation for Tuberculosis Elimination in India

The World Health Organization's "End TB Strategy," envisages a tuberculosis free world, with a target to end the TB epidemic by 2035. For this, its member states, including India, have to secure sufficient resources. Despite India's high economic growth in an otherwise gloomy global economy, it struggles with a resource crunch to support its national strategic plan for effective TB control.

India has the highest number of tuberculosis (TB) patients in the world, followed by China and Indonesia; 23% of the global total of TB cases are reported from India, followed by China and Indonesia (both the countries account for 10% of the global total each) (WHO 2015b: 8). Despite being a preventable and curable disease, TB kills nearly a thousand people every day. India and Nigeria accounted for one-third of all global TB deaths in 2014. Global TB Report 2015 states “Progress in TB prevention, diagnosis and treatment requires adequate funding sustained over many years” (WHO 2015b). In this context, the Government of India’s (GoI) contribution needs to be appropriate.

Inadequate Spending on Health