Lok Sabha Question No. 2282 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-09-23
Subject: Neglect of Other Health Issues due to COVID-19
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Karti P. Chidambaram

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUE STION NO. 2282 TO BE ANSWERED ON 23 RD SEPTEMBER, 2020

## NEGLECT OF OTHER HEA LTH ISSUES DUE TO CO VID - 19 2282. SHRI KARTI P. CHIDAMBARAM:

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of the impact of COVID - 19 on reporting of TB cases and detection of HIV cases;
- (b) whether the Government anticipates an increase in the incidence of TB and HIV as a result of thepandemic; and
- (c) if so, details of the measures being taken by the government to redress the situation?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)

- (a) & (c):TB Notification from Jan 2020 to Aug 2020 is 11, 76,164. TB Notification fro the same time period in the previous year i.e.  Jan 2019 to Aug 2019 was 16, 49,310. Cur there  is  no  evidence  to  suggest  an  increase  in  the  incidence  of  TB  cases  as  a  resul t  of  the pandemic.  However, steps taken by National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP) to mitigate COVID - 19 pandemic impact on TB Services. The Government has taken the following measures to ensure affordable and accessible treatment to TB patients:
- i. Issuing multiple advisories to ensure uninterrupted services during COVID - 19
- ii. Guidance on ensuring functionality of TB diagnostic labs
- iii. Provision of free TB drugs of extended duration and door - step delivery
- iv. Guidance for Bi - directional  TB - COVID  screening  andscreening  of  TB  among ILI/SARI cases issued to State/UTs

Under the National AIDS Control Programme (NACP) of the Government, decline has been noticed in the number of individuals attending HIV Counselling and Testing/Screening

Centers during th e COVID - 19. This is due to lack of transport services and reduced mobil thereof. During March - July 2020, around 1.40 crore HIV testing has been reported under NACP facilities in comparison to 2.32 crore testing in March -July'  2019.  As  a  result  of  decrea se in testing/screening, detection of new HIV cases has also reduced.  During period of March -July' 2020, there has been around 41.40 thousand HIV positive results at NACP facilities, down 82.20 thousand HIV positive results in corresponding months of 2019.

As of now, the current evidence does not anticipate an increase in HIV incidence result of the COVID - 19 pandemic. However, to mitigate the impact of COVID - 19 pandemic on the uptake of HIV/AIDS services, NACP has issued guidance notes to all St ate/Union Territories AIDS Control Societies (SACS) to facilitate continuity of HIV prevention, testing and tre services as much as possible through differentiated modalities like multi - month dispensation of Anti - retroviral treatment (ART), community based screening for HIV and decentralized options for  management  including  enabling  directives  for  commodities  transportation.  Several  v meetings  have  been  convened  with  all  stakeholders  including  community  representatives civil societies to reg ula ly review and reiterate these instructions.