TB cases down in India
By IANSFriday, August 13, 2010
NEW DELHI - The incidence of tuberculosis (TB) is showing a declining trend as a result of the Revised National TB Control Programme (RNTCP), parliament was told Friday.
“The estimated incidences of all cases per lakh population has come down from 184 per lakh population in 2001 to 168 per lakh in 2007,” Minister of State for Health Dinesh Trivedi said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha.
Over 12,700 microscopy centres and over four lakh treatment centres have been set up across the country under the RNTCP, based on WHO recommendations.
“Since its inception, nearly 12 million TB patients have been put on treatment by RNTCP resulting in saving more than two million additional lives,” Trivedi said.
A detection rate of 70 percent and treatment success rate of 85 percent has been achieved in line with the targets of TB control, he said.
NGOs and private practitioners and other medical associations have also been involved in the programme. The minister also said that guidelines on air-borne infection control has also been developed to promote preventive measures.
