Tuberculosis Kills 53 Per 100,000 in Nepal

Kathmandu. Tuberculosis, a major public health problem, is causing the death of 53 out of every one lakh people. According to the World Health Organization, an estimated 67,000 new tuberculosis patients were in Nepal in 2024, with a rate of 227 per one lakh population.

Also, it is estimated that about 16,000 people die every year due to tuberculosis, with a mortality rate of 53 per one lakh, according to the National Tuberculosis Control Center. Deputy Secretary of the Center, Kapil Prasad Timalsena, said that the number of deaths may appear high because the World Health Organization's standard is to consider tuberculosis as the cause of death even if a patient with tuberculosis dies due to any other reason.

With the objective of preventing such a situation, the government has decided to conduct a tuberculosis-free campaign program in 107 more local levels in the upcoming fiscal year. With this, the tuberculosis-free Nepal campaign program will increase from the current 149 to 256 local levels, the Center has stated.

The Tuberculosis-Free Nepal campaign has stated that it will carry out programs with the goal of achieving the target of tuberculosis eradication by 2050. Currently, active patient search work is continuously being carried out at the community level through AI-equipped digital X-rays. Deputy Secretary Timalsena of the Center informed that a budget of 1.50 billion has been allocated for tuberculosis in the upcoming fiscal year. A budget of 820 million has been allocated to the center, 170 million to the province, and 510 million to the local levels.

In the fiscal year 2081/82, 39,151 patients with drug-susceptible tuberculosis were identified and treated under the National Tuberculosis Program. Among them, 39 percent were women, 61 percent were men, and 5.6 percent were children under 15 years of age.

Among the patients undergoing treatment, 72 percent had pulmonary tuberculosis and 28 percent had extrapulmonary tuberculosis. 625 patients with drug-resistant tuberculosis were identified. The treatment success rate for drug-susceptible tuberculosis was 92 percent and for drug-resistant tuberculosis was 76 percent, according to the data of the National Tuberculosis Control Center.

Tuberculosis treatment service is available in 6,241 health institutions across the country, while sputum microscopy service is available free of charge in 785 institutions and rapid testing service in 142 institutions. In addition, 31 centers and 98 sub-centers are in operation for the treatment of drug-resistant tuberculosis, the Center has stated.

An estimated 42 percent of patients have not been able to access treatment. Also, 51 percent of patients and their families have to bear financial burdens, and stigma and social discrimination have also complicated the problem. Lack of adequate resources is the main challenge, the Center has stated.