DELHI: Jammu and Kashmir reported 408 deaths due to tuberculosis (TB) in 2024, according to data provided by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in response to a parliamentary question in the Lok Sabha on March 28, 2025. The data highlights the persistent public health challenge posed by TB in the region despite national efforts towards its eradication.
The information was disclosed by Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Prataprao Jadhav in response to an unstarred question raised in the Lok Sabha. The minister stated that the National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP), operating under the National Health Mission (NHM), has led to a 17.7 per cent decline in TB incidence across India from 2015 to 2023. However, the mortality figures indicate that TB remains a significant concern in Jammu and Kashmir, where 408 individuals succumbed to the disease last year.
Across India, a total of 86,556 TB deaths were recorded in 2024, with Uttar Pradesh reporting the highest number at 19,533 deaths. Among Union Territories, Delhi recorded 2,482 deaths, while Ladakh reported nine deaths.
The government has set a target to eliminate TB by 2025 as part of its broader disease eradication initiatives. Minister Jadhav reiterated that the central government continues to provide technical and financial assistance to states and Union Territories, including Jammu and Kashmir, to strengthen TB detection, treatment, and prevention efforts. The NHM, through its various sub-missions, aims to improve healthcare infrastructure and increase accessibility to medical resources, particularly in rural and underserved areas.
In Jammu and Kashmir, NHM has deployed a total of 9,302 healthcare workers, including 121 specialists, 453 general duty medical officers (GDMOs), 858 AYUSH doctors, 1,810 staff nurses, 3,508 auxiliary nurse midwives (ANMs), and 1,552 allied and healthcare workers. These professionals play a crucial role in delivering essential medical services, including TB care and prevention.
