Lok Sabha Question No. 3208 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-08-09
Subject: Eradication of TB among Children
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Shri Balya Mama Suresh Gopinath Mhatre

## GOVERNMENTOFINDIA MINISTRYOF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH ANDFAMILYWELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3208 TO BE ANSWERED ON 09 th AUGUST, 2024

## ERADICATION OF TB AMONG CHILDREN

## 3208: SHRI BALYA MAMA SURESH GOPINATH MHATRE:

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether India has the highest number of child tuberculosis cases in the world during the last three years;
- (b) if so, the details thereof, year-wise;
- (c) the details of various Government schemes launched for eradication of tuberculosis among the children in the country;
- (d) the details of measures taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to handle this situation along with the timeline fixed in this regard; and
- (e) the details of the fund allocated for this purpose in Maharashtra including Bhiwandi Parliamentary Constituency during the last three years, year-wise?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SMT. ANUPRIYAPATEL)

(a) to (d) Country-wise paediatric (0-14 years) TB incidence estimates for the world is available only for the year 2022 in the World Health Organisation (WHO) ' s Global TB Report 2023. As per this report, the paediatric TB cases during 2022 in India was estimated at 3.26 lakh. However, as per Ni-kshay data, the details of notified paediatric TB cases in India during last three years are as under:

| Year                  | 2021 (Jan-Dec)        | 2022 (Jan-Dec)        | 2023 (Jan-Dec)        |
|-----------------------|-----------------------|-----------------------|-----------------------|
| Paediatric TB cases   | 1,18,232              | 1,35,921              | 1,43,174              |
| Data Source: Ni-kshay | Data Source: Ni-kshay | Data Source: Ni-kshay | Data Source: Ni-kshay |

Major policy actions implemented as per the National Strategic Plan (2017-25) for elimination of TB in India were (i) promotion of early diagnosis of TB patients, prompt treatment with quality assured drugs and treatment regimens (ii) involvement of private sector in TB care (iii) implementation of prevention strategies including TB preventive treatment and contact tracing in high risk/vulnerable population and (iv) airborne infection control. The details of measures undertaken to address paediatric tuberculosis in the country under NTEP is placed at Annexure .

(e) The details of the funds allocated in Maharashtra (including Bhiwandi Parliamentary Constituency) during the last three years are as below:-

|   Sr. No | State of Maharashtra   |   Fund (Cash + Kind) allocated (Rs. In crores) |
|----------|------------------------|------------------------------------------------|
|        1 | 2021-22                |                                         104.92 |
|        2 | 2022-23                |                                         105.08 |
|        3 | 2023-24                |                                         115.58 |

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## Annexure referred to in the reply to parts (a) to (d) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 3208 for answer on 09/08/2024

## Details of measures undertaken to address paediatric tuberculosis in the country under NTEP

-  BCG vaccination at birth has been expanded as part of Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP).
-  Upfront rapid molecular diagnostics ensured in all cases of presumptive paediatric TB.
-  Child-friendly formulations provided for treatment including for drug resistant TB.
-  The eligible groups for TB preventive treatment (TPT) expanded to include children above the age of five years, along with the adolescent population.
-  Rs 500/per month disbursed as direct benefit transfer (DBT) under Ni-kshay Poshan Yojana for nutritional support to TB patient (including paediatric TB cases).
-  Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan (PMTBMBA) under which Ni-kshay Mitra from the community came forward to adopt consented TB patients with the objective to provide people with TB with additional nutritional, diagnostic and vocational support.
-  Collaboration with Indian Academy of Paediatrics (IAP) ensured to build capacity in the private sector to increase paediatric TB case notification for ensuring timely and adequate TB care.
-  TB screening assured through Mobile Medical Units, in the paediatric population through Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK) and Rashtriya Kishor Swasthya Karyakram (RKSK).

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