New Delhi : Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Anupriya Patel inaugurated the India Innovation Summit – Pioneering Solutions to End TB at Bharat Mandapam Convention Centre. The event, jointly organised 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, aims to accelerate India’s efforts to eliminate TB by 2025.
Addressing the gathering, Anupriya Patel highlighted India’s significant progress in TB control and the critical role of innovation in achieving this goal. She emphasised that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India’s public health landscape has undergone a remarkable transformation. A multi-sectoral approach, driven by innovation and community participation, has been instrumental in strengthening healthcare services and reaching the last mile.
Patel outlined the achievements of the National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP), noting that the number of missing TB cases had reduced from 15 lakh in 2015 to 2.5 lakh in 2023. The programme recorded 25.5 lakh TB cases in 2023 and 26.07 lakh in 2024, the highest number of notified cases ever. Citing the World Health Organization’s Global TB Report 2024, she stated that TB incidence in India has declined by 17.7 per cent, from 237 per lakh population in 2015 to 195 per lakh in 2023, while TB-related deaths have fallen by 21.4 per cent, from 28 per lakh in 2015 to 22 per lakh in 2023. TB treatment coverage has increased significantly, rising from 53 per cent in 2015 to 85 per cent in 2023.
She also spoke about new initiatives under NTEP, including the nationwide rollout of a shorter, safer oral Bedaquiline-containing drug-resistant TB treatment regimen, which has improved treatment success rates from 68 per cent in 2020 to 75 per cent in 2022. A more effective regimen, mBPaL (Bedaquiline, Pretomanid, Linezolid), has been introduced for multidrug-resistant TB, reducing treatment duration to six months and increasing efficacy by 80 per cent. To address undernutrition among TB patients, the government has introduced Energy Dense Nutritional Support (EDNS) during the first two months of treatment. The Ni-kshay Mitra initiative, aimed at mobilising additional support for TB patients, has been expanded to provide food baskets to patients and their household contacts. Additionally, financial assistance under the Ni-kshay Poshan Yojana was doubled from Rs 500 per month per patient to Rs 1,000, effective from November 2024.
The ongoing TB Mukt Bharat–100 Days Intensified Campaign was also highlighted. Launched in December 2024, it covers 455 high-priority districts and focuses on resource mobilisation, awareness, and intensified action against TB. The campaign’s outcomes will be presented on World TB Day on 24 March 2025.
Innovation has been central to India’s TB elimination strategy, with advancements in diagnostics, treatment, and prevention. Patel highlighted the validation of three indigenous handheld X-ray devices by ICMR, designed to improve TB screening among vulnerable populations. These lightweight, portable devices with low radiation exposure have been deployed as part of the 100-day programme. Additionally, ICMR, in collaboration with the Institute of Plasma Research, Ahmedabad, has developed DeepCXR, an artificial intelligence-based tool for analysing chest X-rays. AI-based tools are expected to revolutionise early TB detection and treatment initiation.
Another major development is the CyTb skin test for detecting latent TB infection, developed by the Serum Institute of India. Validated against the Interferon Gamma Release Assay (IGRA), CyTb offers a more cost-effective alternative, particularly for resource-limited settings. ICMR has also validated PathoDetect, an indigenous molecular diagnostic NAAT test that simultaneously detects TB and drug resistance to rifampicin and isoniazid in a single step. This test, along with the already available TruNat, has expanded India’s capacity for molecular diagnosis. The Quantiplus MTB FAST Detection Kit, developed by Huwel Lifesciences, is the world’s first indigenous open-system RT-PCR kit for TB diagnosis. Validated by ICMR, it offers a sensitivity of 86 per cent and specificity of 96 per cent, making it a cost-effective tool for expanding TB molecular testing.
Health Technology Assessment India under the Department of Health Research has evaluated several TB-related technologies, including the Truenat diagnostic platform, BPAL/BPALM treatment regimens for multidrug-resistant TB, AI-enabled chest X-ray analysis, and TMEAD, an adherence monitoring device for TB treatment. Patel stressed that digital health, AI, data analytics, and innovative healthcare solutions will be critical in diagnosing and treating the millions of TB patients who remain undetected each year. She encouraged innovators to continue developing tools that can be integrated into national TB programmes, reinforcing the commitment to eliminating TB by 2025.
NITI Aayog member VK Paul addressed the summit, describing it as a significant step towards leveraging innovation for TB elimination. He highlighted India’s success in tackling TB under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership and reaffirmed the government’s resolve to eliminate five diseases—leprosy, lymphatic filariasis, measles, rubella, and kala-azar—over the next five years. He underscored the importance of advanced tools for diagnosing drug-resistant TB and the role of AI in streamlining TB detection. He also stressed that scalable, accessible technology should be prioritised, alongside funding support for key innovations and research in TB elimination.
Secretary of the Department of Health Research and Director General of ICMR, Rajiv Bahl, emphasised the transformative role of research and indigenous technologies in India’s TB elimination efforts. He stated that scientific advancements have driven progress in TB detection, treatment, rehabilitation, and prevention. The summit, he noted, serves as a crucial platform for accelerating the adoption of new technologies into national TB programmes, benefiting not only India but the global TB elimination mission.
The one-and-a-half-day summit features over 200 innovations, including handheld X-ray devices, AI-powered diagnostic tools, and new molecular testing technologies. More than 1,200 participants from academia, industry, healthcare, and research have come together to foster collaborations that will enhance TB elimination efforts. The event provides a space for innovators to engage with policymakers and regulators, ensuring that promising technologies are integrated into public health programmes.
An exhibition at the summit is showcasing more than 200 groundbreaking innovations, alongside over 30 scientific sessions, panel discussions, and lectures on the latest advancements in TB research. The India Innovation Summit reaffirms the government’s commitment to leveraging scientific and technological advancements to achieve TB elimination, while also addressing other public health challenges in the years ahead.
Former Secretary DHR and DG ICMR Soumya Swaminathan, Joint Secretary DHR Anu Nagar, Senior DDG (Admin) ICMR Manisha Saxena, and other senior officials and scientists from the ministry and ICMR participated in the summit. Among the international attendees were Trevor Mundel, President of Global Health at the Gates Foundation, and Guy Marks from The Union.
BI Bureau
