India Innovation Summit 2025 Inaugurated to Accelerate TB Elimination Efforts

New Delhi: The India Innovation Summit – Pioneering Solutions to End TB was inaugurated today at Bharat Mandapam Convention Centre by Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Anupriya Patel. Organized jointly by the Department of Health Research-Indian Council of Medical Research (DHR-ICMR) and the Central TB Division (CTD), Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoHFW), the summit aims to drive innovation and accelerate India’s efforts to eliminate tuberculosis (TB) by 2025.

Addressing the gathering, Anupriya Patel highlighted India’s remarkable progress in TB control under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. She emphasized that India has witnessed a significant decline in TB cases and deaths due to innovative healthcare initiatives. According to the WHO Global TB Report 2024, India’s TB incidence rate has declined by 17.7% from 237 cases per lakh population in 2015 to 195 per lakh population in 2023. TB-related deaths have also reduced by 21.4%, reflecting the success of the National TB Elimination Program (NTEP). The Minister outlined key achievements, including a 32% increase in TB treatment coverage over the past eight years, reaching 85% in 2023. The Ni-kshay Mitra Initiative, launched to provide additional support to TB patients, has also been expanded, ensuring greater community involvement in the fight against TB.

Patel unveiled several cutting-edge innovations introduced under NTEP, including handheld X-ray devices developed by ICMR, which are being used in the 100-Day Intensified TB Mukt Bharat Campaign to detect TB in remote areas. She also highlighted the AI-Based Chest X-ray Interpretation tool, DeepCXR, developed in partnership with the Institute of Plasma Research, Ahmedabad, to enhance TB detection. Other major innovations include the PathoDetectTM Molecular Test, which simultaneously detects TB and drug resistance in a single step, and the CyTb Skin Test, developed by the Serum Institute of India Ltd as a cost-effective alternative to traditional TB detection methods. Additionally, the introduction of the mBPaL (Bedaquiline, Pretomanid, Linezolid) regimen, an 80% more effective treatment for multidrug-resistant TB, has reduced the treatment duration to six months.

The Minister also announced an increase in financial assistance under the Ni-kshay Poshan Yojana (NPY), with TB patients now receiving ₹1,000 per month, up from ₹500, to support their nutritional needs during treatment. Additionally, the Energy Dense Nutritional Support (EDNS) program provides essential nutrition to malnourished TB patients during the initial two months of treatment, helping improve recovery rates.

In his address, Dr. V. K. Paul, Member of NITI Aayog, emphasized that technological advancements and AI-driven solutions are crucial to achieving India’s TB elimination goals. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to eliminating five major diseases in the next five years, including leprosy, lymphatic filariasis, measles, rubella, and kala-azar.

The one-and-a-half-day summit features an exhibition showcasing over 200 groundbreaking TB-related innovations, including molecular testing technologies, digital health solutions, and AI-powered diagnostic tools. Over 1,200 participants from the fields of healthcare, research, industry, and policy-making are attending the event.

The summit also hosted international experts, including Dr. Trevor Mundel, President of Global Health, Gates Foundation, and Prof. Guy Marks of The Union, who discussed global best practices in TB control. As India moves closer to its 2025 TB elimination target, the India Innovation Summit serves as a crucial platform to integrate scientific advancements, policy reforms, and community-driven efforts to create a TB-free nation.