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India Launches Global Study on Ayurveda for TB Treatment
24 Mar
Summary
- India initiated a global clinical study on Ayurveda as a TB treatment adjunct.
- The study will involve 1,250 new TB patients across eight institutions.
- Focus areas include patient weight, nutrition, disease progression, and quality of life.
India has initiated a groundbreaking global clinical study to scientifically evaluate the efficacy of traditional Ayurveda as a supplementary treatment for tuberculosis (TB).
The study aims to enroll 1,250 newly diagnosed TB patients across eight different institutions. Its primary focus will be on assessing the impact of Ayurvedic adjunct therapy on crucial patient outcomes, including body weight, nutritional status, disease progression, quality of life, and treatment safety and tolerability.
Union Minister Jitendra Singh emphasized that the study seeks to address the persistent challenges faced by TB patients even after treatment, such as weakness and diminished quality of life. He noted that Ayurveda offers unique potential for supportive and host-directed therapies, particularly in enhancing immunity and aiding recovery.
India, which previously bore a significant portion of the global TB burden, has seen a notable reduction in incidence, with approximately 187 cases per lakh population in 2024, marking a 21% decrease since 2015. The nation is pursuing an accelerated path towards TB elimination through enhanced diagnostics, digital adherence tools, and patient-centric care.
This initiative stems from a Memorandum of Understanding signed between the Ministry of Ayush and the Department of Biotechnology in May 2022, following extensive consultations and protocol finalization.
