To ensure adequate nutritional support to TB patients and to reduce TB incidence and mortality, the MoHFW under the National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP) vide its letter dt. 7th Oct 2024, has directed as follows:
Enhancement of monthly cash support to all notified TB patients as part of Ni-kshay Poshan Yojana (NPY) from the existing rate of ₹500/- to ₹1,000/- per month per patient, for entire duration of treatment, irrespective of where the patient seeks care.
“This support will be provided through Direct Benefit Transfer to all eligible TB patients.”
Some other key changes, under the same scheme
- Energy Dense Nutrition Supplementation (EDNS) for all underweight patients with BMI less than 18.5 kg/m2 at the time of diagnosis during first 2 months of their treatment.
- Allow coverage of family members (household contacts) of TB patients under the Ni-kshay Mitra initiative of Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan.
Latest Trend
The incidence rate in India had fallen from 237 per lakh population in 2015 to 199 per lakh population in 2022, while the mortality rate had declined from 28 per lakh population in 2015 to 23 per lakh population in 2022, according to the India TB report 2024 released by the Union Health Ministry on 27 March 2024, stating that the country has set 2025 as the target for eliminating the disease.
Additionally, of all the TB cases notified in 2023, nearly 32% of notifications came from the private health care sector which is an increase of 17% from the previous year. According to the data released in the report, while the overall notification of TB cases has improved by over 50% in the last nine years on an annual basis, Uttar Pradesh saw the highest jump in notifications (by 21% compared to the previous year) followed by Bihar (15%).
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The Medical Bulletin
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