PM Modi Highlights Role Of Technology To Tackle TB

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, speaking at the One World TB Summit at Rudrakash Convention Centre in Uttar Pradesh’s Varanasi highlighted the immense contribution of technology in the pursuit to eradicate Tuberculosis (TB) from the nation.

The Prime Minister talked about the tech integration in the TB Free India campaign. He said that Ni-kshay Portal and the use of data science are going a long way in this regard. He said that the Health Ministry-ICMR developed a new method for sub-national disease surveillance that has made India, apart from WHO, the only country to have this kind of model. 

“In the last nine years, India has worked together on many fronts in this fight against TB. Such as through people's participation, enhancing nutrition, treatment through innovation, full use of technology, and wellness and prevention, and missions like Fit India, Khelo India, and Yoga,” 

PM Modi said during the national summit.

The Prime Minister underlined that India is engaged in the campaign to eradicate TB by making use of the nation’s experience, expertise, and willpower. He also noted that India is constantly ready to help every country in need. 

India has set an ambitious goal to end tuberculosis (TB) by 2025, five years ahead of the global target of 2030. India's local approach to tackling TB has the potential to benefit the world, as the country manufactures 80% of TB medicines, showcasing the exceptional skills and capabilities of its pharmaceutical industry in contributing to the global good.

“Our campaign against TB will be successful only with Sabka Prayas (everyone's efforts). I believe, our efforts today will strengthen the foundation of our secure future, and we will be in a position to hand over a better world to our future generations”, 

the Prime Minister added.

What initiatives were launched by the Prime Minister regarding TB?

During the summit, PM Modi launched a number of initiatives to curb the disease, including the TB-Mukt Panchayat, the official pan-India rollout of a shorter TB Preventive Treatment (TPT), the Family-centric care model for TB and the release of India’s Annual TB Report 2023. He also laid the foundation stone of the National Centre for Disease Control & High Containment Laboratory and inaugurated the site for the Metropolitan Public Health Surveillance Unit in Varanasi.

Startups have a unique role to play in the fight against TB. They are often agile, innovative, and can quickly adapt to changing circumstances. By leveraging technology, they can provide new solutions to the challenges posed by TB, from improving detection rates to developing more effective treatments.

One example of a startup making a difference in the fight against TB is the Indian company, Molbio Diagnostics. They have developed a portable device that can diagnose TB in less than two hours, compared to the traditional diagnosis method which can take several days. This device is especially important in low-income countries, where access to diagnostic tools is limited.

Another startup, TB Alert, is working to improve access to TB treatment and care in Africa. They have developed a mobile app that helps health workers identify and track TB patients, ensuring that they receive the treatment they need. This app has already helped to increase treatment success rates and reduce the number of deaths caused by TB in Africa.

Another Gurugram-based startup NextGen Invitro Diagnostics (NGIVD) was founded in 2015 to provide affordable, easy, and accurate diagnoses of infectious diseases by using advanced multiplexing technology that can detect multiple disease biomarkers using a single sample and enabled easy DNA extraction and faster diagnoses of TB. 

These are just a few examples of the many startups that are working to eliminate TB. By leveraging their creativity, innovation, and passion, these companies are making a real difference in the fight against this deadly disease. As we mark World Tuberculosis Day, it is important to recognize and support the crucial role that startups play in this global effort. Together, we can work towards a future free from TB.