Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the deadliest diseases in India.
It claims around 1000 lives in India on a daily basis and it is a tragedy that we
are yet to bring it under control. A WHO (World Health Organization) report in 2012,
stated that India shared the highest burden of Tuberculosis in the world. There
were 2.2 million new cases of TB in India out of the total 8.7 million cases in
the world. Thus, India, with 17% of the global population, carries 26% of the global
burden.
One of the reasons, which are creating complications in effecting
a better control over Tuberculosis in India, is the emergence of drug resistant
variations of TB in India. Both
the public and private health sector will have to play important roles in order
for India to overcome the challenge of TB. The public sector needs to include newer
technologies and testing methods which would increase the rate of detection. Sputum
microscopy, currently being used as the primary tool of diagnosis, is notorious
for missing out on half of the cases. These cases, when detected in their later
stages, are much more difficult to treat. The private sector mostly gets the blame
for inaccurate and expensive diagnostic tests. There are very few private Tuberculosis Treatment clinics which have
the requisite infrastructure and technology to accurately diagnose TB.
Both the sectors also need to take proper steps to generate
awareness regarding Tuberculosis. The period of treatment is also crucial, as
appropriate control of infection and better nutrition ensures better response
to the medicinal course. “The medical fraternity is also eagerly waiting for
the research on better vaccines against Tuberculosis to yield results. This
would bring down TB cases in India”, says Dr. Himanshu Garg of Respiratory
& Sleep Cure Solutions, a leading center for Tuberculosis Treatment in
Gurgaon & Delhi.
