Advancing Social Protection and Tuberculosis Elimination in India – Beyond Cash Transfers and Towards Addressing Social and Structural Determinants for a Healthier Future; A Response to the Recent Commentaries

Document Type : Correspondence

Authors

1 Department of Respiratory Medicine, Government Medical College Bhavnagar, Maharaja Krishnakumarsinhji Bhavnagar University, Bhavnagar, India

2 Department of Community Medicine, Government Medical College Bhavnagar, Maharaja Krishnakumarsinhji Bhavnagar University, Bhavnagar, India

3 Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Division of Health Sciences, ICMR-National Institute of Occupational Health (NIOH), Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Ahmedabad, India

Keywords

Full Text

In 2022, India witnessed a staggering surge with a record number of 2.42 million reported cases of tuberculosis (TB).1 According to recent estimates, the median total costs due to TB among patients in India’s public and private sectors are Indian rupees (INR) 7500 (~US$ 104) and 20 000 (~US$ 277), respectively.1,2 The escalating burden of TB in India necessitates comprehensive and cost-effective socioeconomic support measures. Under the direct benefit transfer (DBT) scheme in India, patients with TB are provided a monetary assistance of INR 500 (~US$ 7) which is directly credited to their bank accounts to support their nutritional supplementation needs.3...(Read more...)

References

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History

  • Receive Date: 15 May 2023
  • Revise Date: 17 May 2023
  • Accept Date: 25 May 2023
  • First Publish Date: 27 May 2023

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