Change of strategy towards ending TB

Metro India News | Hyderabad 

On the occasion of World Tuberculosis Day on March 24, the focus has shifted toward a dual-strategy of national sovereignty and grassroots engagement. Under the 2026 theme, “Yes! We Can End TB: Led by Countries, Powered by People,” healthcare experts and policymakers are calling for a transition from mere disease control to absolute elimination.  India, which bears a disproportionately high burden of the global TB caseload, continues to grapple with the complexities of multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB), delayed diagnoses and the socioeconomic determinants of health including malnutrition and overcrowded urban settlements.

India’s National TB Elimination Program (NTEP) has been at the forefront of this effort, deploying digital adherence technologies and active case-finding protocols. Public health officials note that adequate funding and sustained policy support are the cornerstones of the 2025-2026 elimination targets. On the clinical front, the strategy advocates for a shift toward molecular diagnostics, such as Cartridge-Based Nucleic Acid Amplification Testing (CBNAAT), to ensure rapid and accurate detection.

-Dr. E. Ravindra Reddy,

Sr. Consultant 

Pulmonologist,

Kamineni Hospitals, 

LB Nagar