TB cases on rise, jeopardized Mumbai's 2025 TB-free target

In a shocking revelation, it was revealed via a Right to Information (RTI) that the number of tuberculosis (TB) patients in Mumbai is steadily increasing while recovery cases are declining. The alarming situation is in stark contrast to the goal of making the country, including Mumbai, TB-free by the year 2025. The report obtained from the Mumbai Municipal Corporation Health Department sheds light on this worrying trend.

According to the report, there has been a significant increase in the number of TB patients in Mumbai every year for the past four years. Amazingly, while the number of new TB cases increased by 108%, the recovery rate experienced a drastic decrease of 40%. These statistics paint a bleak picture of the TB scene in the country's financial capital.

The Department of Health report indicates that in 2019, an average of 108 TB patients were successfully recovering from the disease daily. However, the following years witnessed a decline in the number of patients cured, with averages of only 80 and 105 people cured daily. These data clearly highlight the growing disparity between increasing patient numbers and declining recovery rates, Dainik Bhaskar reported.

Furthermore, the report reveals that in 2019, an average of 141 TB patients were diagnosed with the disease daily. The following years, 2020 and 2021, witnessed a decrease in screening due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in daily averages of 104 and 136 patients, respectively. In 2022, the number of newly diagnosed patients increased to an average of 153 cases per day.

The increase in new cases of tuberculosis can be attributed to several factors, including increased contamination. Unfortunately, the Municipal Corporation seems to overlook these crucial aspects. Many patients face dire financial circumstances that prevent them from accessing hospitals or TB centers for treatment. Fayaz Alam, an activist, expressed concern about the authorities' lack of attention to these issues.

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