India has one of the highest burdens of Tuberculosis (TB) globally, and ensuring an adequate supply of quality-assured drugs is crucial for effective treatment. Examine the major impediments to ending TB in India.

Topic: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, and Human Resources.

Topic: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, and Human Resources.

2. India has one of the highest burdens of Tuberculosis (TB) globally, and ensuring an adequate supply of quality-assured drugs is crucial for effective treatment. Examine the major impediments to ending TB in India. (250 words)

Difficulty level: Moderate

Reference: The Hindu , Insights on India

Why the question: With less than two years left to achieve the ambitious goal set by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2018 to “eliminate” TB in India, the pharmacy of the Global South is once again struggling to treat patients with drug-sensitive TB. Key Demand of the question: To write about the challenges posed by TB and ways to end it. Directive word: Discuss – This is an all-encompassing directive – you must debate on paper by going through the details of the issues concerned by examining each one of them. You must give reasons for both for and against arguments. Structure of the answer: Introduction: Begin by giving statistic highlighting the incidence and impact of TB in India. Body: First, write about the various measures taken and progress made in fight against TB in India. Next, write about the shortcomings of the above with a special emphasis on drug shortage and other major challenges in India’s fight against TB. Next, write about the possible solutions to the above issue to end TB in India – improving awareness, strengthening healthcare infrastructure, expanding access to diagnostics and treatment, targeting high-risk populations, and promoting research and innovation etc. Conclusion: Conclude by writing a way forward.

Why the question:

With less than two years left to achieve the ambitious goal set by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2018 to “eliminate” TB in India, the pharmacy of the Global South is once again struggling to treat patients with drug-sensitive TB.

Key Demand of the question:

To write about the challenges posed by TB and ways to end it.

Directive word:

Discuss – This is an all-encompassing directive – you must debate on paper by going through the details of the issues concerned by examining each one of them. You must give reasons for both for and against arguments.

Structure of the answer:

Introduction:

Begin by giving statistic highlighting the incidence and impact of TB in India.

First, write about the various measures taken and progress made in fight against TB in India.

Next, write about the shortcomings of the above with a special emphasis on drug shortage and other major challenges in India’s fight against TB.

Next, write about the possible solutions to the above issue to end TB in India – improving awareness, strengthening healthcare infrastructure, expanding access to diagnostics and treatment, targeting high-risk populations, and promoting research and innovation etc.

Conclusion:

Conclude by writing a way forward.