Ahead of World Tuberculosis Day on March 24, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Monday said the cure rate of drug-resistant tuberculosis (DRTB) patients in the city has doubled over the past eight years, reaching 81 per cent, reflecting improvements in diagnosis, treatment and patient support systems.
According to the BMC’s Health Department, Mumbai recorded a total of 54,390 tuberculosis (TB) cases in 2025, of which 48,835 patients were city residents. Of the total cases, 40 per cent were extra-pulmonary TB, 6 per cent were paediatric cases, and 8 per cent were drug-resistant TB cases.
This year’s World Tuberculosis Day theme, “Yes! We can end TB! Led by countries. Powered by people,” underscores the importance of strong government leadership and community participation in eliminating the disease.
Enhanced diagnostics and infrastructure
The civic body said significant efforts have been made to strengthen diagnostic facilities across Mumbai. Currently, health centres are equipped with 45 CBNAAT machines and 34 portable TruNAAT devices, enabling free and accurate detection of TB and rifampicin-resistant TB.
Additionally, the Central TB Division is set to provide four PathoDetect machines for advanced detection of TB and resistance to key drugs. At present, two such machines are operational at Sir J.J. Hospital and the Intermediate Reference Laboratory (IRL) at GTB Hospital. In 2025 alone, nearly two lakh molecular (NAAT) tests were conducted.
The Culture and Drug Susceptibility Testing (DST) laboratory at GTB Sewri TB Hospital has been upgraded to an IRL, while a new TB laboratory has been made operational at Kasturba Hospital.
Focus on targeted care and advanced treatment
Under the ‘Differentiated TB Care’ initiative, which identifies high-risk patients and ensures tailored treatment, as many as 19,172 patients have been registered.
For drug-resistant TB patients, free treatment is being provided through 31 specialised DRTB clinics. The BMC has also introduced an advanced six-month BPaLM treatment regimen. By December 2025, 1,093 patients had begun this treatment, with 89 completing it successfully.
In a move towards precision medicine, the civic body has also piloted the use of Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) to better understand drug resistance patterns. A study involving 2,500 samples has been completed and is expected to be incorporated into the programme following central approval.
Large-scale screening and preventive measures
Under the National TB Elimination Programme, the Centre’s “TB-Free India Campaign” launched in 2025 saw extensive screening efforts in Mumbai. A total of 13.08 lakh high-risk individuals were screened, and 1,24,774 suspected patients underwent X-ray examinations.
To improve early detection, 24 handheld X-ray machines have been deployed, with 19 currently operational across 16 suburban hospitals and GTB Hospital. An additional 24 machines have been introduced through CSR initiatives. During 2025–2026, over 74,000 X-rays were conducted.
Preventive strategies have also been strengthened. The Cy-TB test is being used to detect infections even in asymptomatic individuals. In 2025, 13,311 high-risk individuals were screened, of whom 1,961 tested positive and 1,655 were started on preventive treatment.
Nutritional support and community outreach
The BMC highlighted the importance of nutritional support in TB recovery. Under the Nikshay Mitra initiative, patients receive monthly nutrition kits for six months. Over the past two years, 1,48,867 ration kits have been distributed under the Nikshay Poshan Yojana.
To mark World Tuberculosis Day 2026, the civic body will conduct an extensive awareness campaign across all 26 municipal wards. Activities will include hoardings, awareness drives at BEST bus stops, health talks, street plays and jingles over a week-long period.
Symptoms not to be ignored
The BMC urged citizens to seek immediate medical attention if they experience symptoms such as a persistent cough lasting more than two weeks, fever, weight loss, night sweats, loss of appetite, chest pain, difficulty breathing, coughing up blood or sputum, fatigue, or swelling in the neck.
Residents have been advised to visit the nearest BMC dispensary, health post or “Aapla Dawakhana” for free testing and treatment.
