SRINAGAR: Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh recorded a total of 417 Tuberculosis (TB) deaths in 2024, according to data presented by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in the Lok Sabha.
The figures include 408 TB-related deaths in J&K and 9 in Ladakh. India has witnessed a 17.7 per cent decline in TB incidence, dropping from 237 per 100,000 population in 2015 to 195 per 100,000 in 2023.
The government aims to eliminate TB by 2025. However, challenges persist in regions like J&K and Ladakh, where geographical barriers, limited healthcare access, and winter disruptions hinder treatment efforts.
The central and UT governments are intensifying efforts to enhance TB detection and treatment mechanisms. Nevertheless, experts emphasise the need for early diagnosis, improved access to medicines, and robust healthcare infrastructure to meet the 2025 TB elimination deadline. (KNO)
