World Tuberculosis Day: India’s endless war against TB

In 2018, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi promised to eradicate tuberculosis (TB) in the country by 2025, aiming to set an example globally. Since December 2024, India’s health minister has led a “100-day campaign” to eliminate TB, but recent WHO data shows India is far from its goal. It recorded 2.5 to 3 million new cases and over 400,000 deaths in 2023 alone, accounting for a third of global TB cases and deaths. The country faces two major issues: TB treatment shortages and the rise of multi-drug-resistant TB. While treatments exist, the government’s slow approval of their distribution has hindered progress, leaving India at a critical juncture in its fight against the disease. FRANCE 24’s Khansa Juned and Alban Alvarez report.