Under the Ni-kshay Poshan Yojana, over Rs. 4,406 crores have been disbursed to over 1.37 crore beneficiaries since April 2018, the officials added.

India aims to eliminate TB by 2025, ahead of the global target.

The WHO report said despite measurable progress in diagnosis, treatment and innovation, persistent challenges in funding and equitable access to care threaten to reverse hard-won gains in the global fight against TB.

Over 100 countries achieved at least a 20% reduction in TB incidence rates, and 65 countries achieved reductions of 35% or more in TB-related deaths. It, however, said ending TB globally will require accelerated progress in countries with the highest burden.

Highlighting that TB is one of the top 10 causes of death worldwide and the leading cause of death from a single infectious agent, the WHO report said, some regions and countries show sustained progress, demonstrating that strong political commitment and investment address this ancient disease.

"Declines in the global burden of TB, and progress in testing, treatment, social protection and research are all welcome news after years of setbacks, but progress is not victory," said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General.

"The fact that TB continues to claim over a million lives each year, despite being preventable and curable, is simply unconscionable. WHO is working with countries to build on the progress they have made and accelerate the path to ending TB by 2030.”

These reductions signal a continued recovery of essential health services following disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Timely treatment for TB has saved an estimated 83 million lives since 2000. Between 2023 and 2024, progress continued in TB diagnosis, prevention, and treatment, reflecting the impact of sustained efforts and innovation in countries.

The report said that in 2024, 8.3 million people were newly diagnosed with TB and accessed treatment, representing about 78% of the people who fell ill with the disease during that year.

Moreover, the coverage of rapid testing for TB diagnosis increased from 48% in 2023 to 54% in 2024; treatment for drug-susceptible TB remained highly effective, with a success rate of 88%; the number of people developing drug-resistant TB each year has been declining, with over 164,000 people receiving treatment in 2024.

The latest data show an improvement in the treatment success rate, to 71%, up from 68% the previous year.

In 2024, 5.3 million people at high risk of TB received preventive treatment, up from 4.7 million in 2023.

The report also highlights data on the significant risk factors driving the epidemic, such as undernutrition, HIV infection, diabetes, smoking, and alcohol use. Confronting these drivers, alongside structural determinants such as poverty, requires coordinated multisectoral action.

Despite many gains, global progress levels remain far from meeting the End TB Strategy targets. A significant obstacle is the stagnation of international funding for TB since 2020. In 2024, only US$5.9 billion was available for prevention, diagnosis, and treatment -just over a quarter of the US$22 billion annual target set for 2027.

“We are at a defining moment in the fight against TB,” said Dr Tereza Kasaeva, Director of the WHO Department for HIV, TB, Hepatitis and STIs. “Funding cuts and persistent drivers of the epidemic threaten to undo hard-won gains, but with political commitment, sustained investment, and global solidarity, we can turn the tide and end this ancient killer once and for all.”