India's TB Diagnostics Tech Wins Acclaim at WHA

• 17 Jun 2024

Source: TH

Recently, the Truenat, a rapid molecular diagnostic test for pulmonary and extrapulmonary TB and rifampicin-resistant TB, was hailed at the 77th World Health Assembly in Geneva.

Truenat:

• This portable, battery-operated machine can deliver results in less than an hour and can test for over 40 diseases. 
• In India, it is used at over 7,000 primary and community health centres under the National TB Elimination Programme, and in around 1,500 private labs.
• The World Health Assembly (the decision-making body of the WHO) appreciated India’s effort to eliminate TB and recognized India's innovative initiatives including the use of Truenat machines and handheld X-ray devices as potential global models.
  • Handheld X-ray devices are used in India's TB programme to diagnose TB in challenging operational environments.
• The WHO reports over 10 million new cases of TB every year.
• India accounts for 27% of the global TB burden. Over 1,400 patients die from TB every day in India
• Under Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan India aims to eliminate TB by the year 2025.

Read more: Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan, India TB Report 2024