India reports 38% drop in TB mortality and expands AI-driven screening
The World Health Organization’s 2026 report cites a 38% reduction in tuberculosis deaths in India since 2015 and highlights more than 11 crore chest X-rays and 3 crore molecular tests conducted under the TB Mukt Bharat campaign.
India has lowered its tuberculosis (TB) mortality by 38% since 2015, outpacing the global decline of 35%, according to the World Health Organization’s Global Tuberculosis Report 2026 released on 12 November 2026. The report also notes a 94% treatment-success rate for drug-susceptible TB cases.
The improvement is attributed to intensified activities under the National TB Elimination Programme, including AI-enabled chest X-rays, rapid nucleic acid amplification tests (NAAT), and nutritional support schemes such as the Ni-kshay Poshan Yojana. Between December 2024 and November 2026, the TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan screened over 25 crore people, performed more than 11 crore chest X-rays and 3 crore NAATs, and identified 48.64 lakh new TB cases, of which 14.97 lakh were asymptomatic.
"The detection of nearly 15 lakh asymptomatic cases demonstrates the effectiveness of proactive screening in identifying individuals who might otherwise remain undiagnosed," the report states.
The campaign also reports that 67 933 Panchayats were declared TB-free in 2025. Technological tools such as portable AI-enabled digital X-rays, the Ni-kshay digital platform for patient tracking, and AI chatbots have been deployed to improve diagnostic speed and coverage.
Funding for the TB programme is reported to be 96% domestically sourced, reflecting sustained national investment. Community participation initiatives, including the Ni-kshay Mitra and JOSH Teams, aim to broaden grassroots involvement and support for patients.
The WHO report incorporates data from the Registrar General of India’s Sample Registration System, verbal autopsy assessments, and the Ni-kshay portal. A 2025 national TB prevalence survey conducted by the Indian Council of Medical Research–National Institute for Research in Tuberculosis is under technical review before WHO updates the country profile.
Officials say the government will maintain the momentum by expanding screening, improving access to quality diagnostics, and strengthening preventive treatment and nutritional assistance.