In a significant shift towards greater private sector involvement in public health, the registration of tuberculosis (TB) cases by private doctors and hospitals in India is on the rise. According to recent data, out of the total 2.30 lakh TB cases reported in Maharashtra in 2024, approximately 1.13 lakh, nearly 49% , were recorded by private healthcare providers. Nationwide, the private sector reported 9.5 lakh TB cases.
This marks a notable increase from earlier years; between 2017 and 2024, TB case registrations from private institutions have risen from 17% to nearly 50%. As per regulations, both public and private healthcare providers are required to register TB cases, a mandate aimed at strengthening the national effort to eliminate TB.
As of 2024, 65,913 private healthcare institutions in Maharashtra have been registered on the Nikshay portal — a government-run digital platform for TB case tracking and management. With the aim to make India TB-free by 2025, the contribution of private doctors is seen as crucial. Efforts are being made at multiple levels to engage the private sector more deeply in TB elimination programs.
TB was declared a “notifiable disease” in 2012, and in 2018, legal provisions were introduced mandating the registration of TB cases. Pharmacists, doctors, and pathology labs are all required to notify the government about TB patients. Failure to do so can lead to penalties, including imprisonment and fines. To incentivize compliance, the government provides Rs 500 to private doctors for every case reported, and an additional Rs 500 when treatment is successfully completed or the patient recovers.
Involvement of AYUSH Sector
The AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homeopathy) sector is also playing a vital role in the TB elimination program. AYUSH colleges have been instructed to designate nodal officers for the National TB Elimination Programme, and special committees have been formed at each college to ensure effective implementation.
AYUSH doctors across all districts in Maharashtra are being trained through guidance sessions to help identify suspected TB cases early and provide timely referrals.
Free Medication for TB Patients
All TB patients, including those with drug-resistant TB and those needing preventive treatment, are provided free medication by the government as part of the national health initiative.
