Central TB Division, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India, New Delhi, India.
WHO Country Office for India, New Delhi, India.
Indian J Tuberc. 2020 Dec;67(4S):S48-S60. doi: 10.1016/j.ijtb.2020.11.001. Epub 2020 Nov 10.
TB is a deadly infectious disease, in existence since time immemorial. This article traces the journey of TB developments in the last few decades and the path breaking moments that have accelerated the efforts towards Ending TB from National Tuberculosis Control Program (NTCP 1962-1992) to Revised National Tuberculosis Control Program (RNTCP - 1992-2019) and to National Tuberculosis Elimination Program (NTEP) as per the vision of Honorable Prime Minister of India. From increased funding for TB, the discovery of newer drugs and diagnostics, increased access to health facilities, greater investment in research and expanded reach of public health education, seasoned with TB activism and media's proactive role, private sector participation to political advocacy and community engagement, coupled with vaccine trials has renewed the hope of finding the elusive and miraculous breakthrough to END TB and it seems the goal is within the realms of the possibility. The recent paradigm shift in the policy and the drive of several states & UTs to move towards TB free status through rigorous population-based vulnerability mapping and screening coupled with active case finding is expected to act as the driving force to lead the country towards Ending TB by 2025. Continued investments in research, innovations and availability of more effective drugs and the vaccines will add to existing armamentarium towards Ending TB.
结核病是一种致命的传染病,从远古时代就存在了。本文追溯了过去几十年结核病发展的历程,以及为实现终结结核病目标而取得的突破性进展,从国家结核病控制规划(NTCP,1962-1992 年)到修订后的国家结核病控制规划(RNTCP,1992-2019 年),再到根据印度尊敬的总理的愿景制定的国家结核病消除规划(NTEP)。通过增加结核病资金投入、发现新的药物和诊断方法、增加获得卫生设施的机会、加大对研究的投资以及扩大公共卫生教育的覆盖面,再加上结核病活动家和媒体的积极作用、私营部门参与政治倡导和社区参与,以及疫苗试验,为寻找终结结核病这一难以捉摸的奇迹突破带来了新的希望,似乎这一目标是有可能实现的。最近的政策转变以及一些邦和联邦属地通过严格的基于人群的脆弱性测绘和筛查以及主动病例发现努力迈向结核病自由状态的举措,有望成为推动该国在 2025 年实现终结结核病目标的动力。在研究、创新以及更有效的药物和疫苗的供应方面持续投资,将为终结结核病的现有手段增添助力。