India's big health win: Inside the sharp fall of TB and malaria

India has seen a steep fall in tuberculosis and malaria cases and deaths in the past decade. With this, India has quietly pulled off one of the biggest public health improvements in recent years.

In Short

• TB incidence fell nearly 21% between 2015 and 2023, WHO said
• Malaria cases dropped from 1.17 million to about 227,000 nationally
• Rapid molecular testing and AI X-rays sped up early TB detection

For years, India carried one of the world’s biggest burdens of tuberculosis and malaria. Millions fell sick every year. Thousands died. Overcrowding, poor sanitation, delayed diagnosis and weak healthcare access allowed these diseases to spread easily, especially in rural and underserved regions.

But over the last decade, something changed.

India has quietly pulled off one of the biggest public health improvements in recent years.

According to the World Health Organisation, India’s TB incidence dropped by nearly 21% between 2015 and 2023, almost double the global rate of decline. TB deaths also fell sharply during the same period.

Malaria numbers saw an even steeper fall. Cases crashed by more than 80%, dropping from nearly 1.17 million cases in 2015 to around 227,000 cases in 2023.

Malaria deaths also reduced significantly, helping India exit the WHO’s High Burden to High Impact group in 2024.

SO HOW DID INDIA MANAGE THIS?

The answer lies in years of investment in healthcare infrastructure, technology and grassroots public health systems.

For TB, India rolled out one of the world’s largest rapid molecular testing networks, with over 9,000 testing centres across the country.

Instead of waiting weeks for reports, patients can now be diagnosed much faster and started on treatment earlier.

AI-powered chest X-ray machines are also being used in some regions to identify suspected TB cases quickly, especially in remote and high-burden districts.

The government also expanded its National TB Elimination Programme with free medicines, nutrition support and digital patient tracking systems to ensure people complete their treatment properly.

Dr. Devashish Desai, Consultant, Infectious Diseases at Ruby Hall Clinic, said early diagnosis and better access to treatment have played a major role in reducing disease burden.

“In the past 10 years, India has made great strides in tackling the burden of TB and malaria with better policies, increased surveillance, and increased access to diagnostics and treatment,” he said.

India has also improved maternal healthcare over the years. Maternal mortality dropped by over 28% between 2014 and 2021, while the long-term decline since 1990 is estimated to be nearly 86%, much higher than the global average decline.

GREAT STRIDES IN MALARIA

Malaria control also saw aggressive action on the ground. Millions of insecticide-treated mosquito nets were distributed in villages and high-risk areas. Indoor spraying campaigns helped reduce mosquito breeding and disease spread.

States like Odisha reported dramatic reductions in malaria cases after improving village-level monitoring and healthcare access.

But perhaps India’s biggest strength was not technology alone.

It was people.

An army of ASHA workers, local health volunteers and decentralised health centres helped carry healthcare into villages, tribal belts and remote communities where diseases often go unnoticed for too long.

Still, experts warn that the fight is far from over.

INDIA PROGRESS CONTINUES

India continues to carry a large burden of TB because of its huge population. Drug-resistant TB remains a growing concern, while climate-sensitive mosquito patterns continue to pose challenges for malaria control.

“There has been encouraging progress in the healthcare system, but ongoing investment, increased grassroots effort and community engagement are crucial to full eradication,” Dr. Desai said.

India’s progress shows that large-scale healthcare investment, early screening and strong community participation can dramatically reduce even the world’s deadliest infectious diseases.

- Ends