NEW DELHI: Amid the West Asia conflict, a national survivor-led network representing people affected by tuberculosis in India has written to the centre seeking clarification on the continuity of supply of anti-TB medicines and diagnostic consumables under the National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP).
In a letter to the Union Health Minister, JP Nadda, the Survivors Against TB (SATB), said, “In the current global context, marked by geopolitical tensions, disruptions in international trade routes, and supply-chain uncertainties, we must ensure continuity of supply of diagnosis consumables and anti-TB medicines in India, particularly those used for MDR and XDR TB to all those affected.”
SATB asked the ministry to clarify whether the programme anticipates any disruptions, now or in the immediate future, in the supply of anti-TB medicines, particularly those used for multidrug-resistant (MDR) and extensively drug-resistant TB (MDR/XDR-TB), as well as diagnostic consumables that are critical for TB testing and detection.
India’s treatment protocols for drug-resistant TB increasingly rely on newer and repurposed medicines such as bedaquiline, delamanid, linezolid, clofazimine, and pretomanid, including newer regimens such as BPaL/BPaLM for highly drug-resistant TB. These treatments have significantly improved outcomes and are now a critical component of national DR-TB care.
“However, some of these medicines depend on global manufacturing partnerships or a limited number of manufacturers, which may make supply chains vulnerable to international disruptions. Diagnostic consumables used in TB testing systems are equally essential to ensure timely diagnosis and treatment initiation,” the network said.
They also sought clarification from the ministry on the current supply outlook for TB medicines and diagnostic consumables, the status of buffer stocks, and any mitigation measures that may be in place to prevent disruptions.
“For thousands undergoing MDR/XDR-TB treatment, which can last many months, any interruption in treatment can have serious consequences, including treatment failure, amplification of drug resistance, and increased risk of transmission,” the letter said.
“We, therefore, urge that transparent communication and preparedness planning are essential to protect the health and confidence of those currently on treatment, as well as those who may initiate therapy in the coming months,” they added.
They said they remain committed to supporting the government of India and the NTEP in ensuring person-centred TB care.
India contributes about one-fourth of the world's tuberculosis (TB) burden, with around 2.5 million new cases and nearly 3,00,000 deaths annually, according to an ICMR report.
India had aimed to eliminate TB by 2025, ahead of the global mandate of 2030.
According to the WHO report, India is among eight countries accounting for 67 % of total TB cases in 2024. The WHO Global Tuberculosis Report 2025 said that in 2024, TB remains one of the world’s deadliest infectious killers, claiming over 1.2 million lives and affecting an estimated 10.7 million people in 2024.