~ Philippines–India partnership in health technology aims at advancing healthcare access and deepening bilateral relations ~

Bengaluru, August 11, 2025: The Philippines, one of the top five countries with the highest tuberculosis (TB) burden, faces the challenge of detecting and treating an estimated 190,000 missed TB cases each year. In line with the United Nations target to find and treat 2.1 million TB cases in the country by 2027, the Philippines Health Department is stepping up its commitment to strengthen community-level screening and diagnosis through India-made innovative Truenat® systems and ultra-portable X-ray devices.

Currently, there are 68 Truenat® devices deployed across the Philippines, enabling rapid, multi-disease molecular testing for TB, HIV, HPV, Hepatitis B & C, and more. A pilot in the Bantayan Islands demonstrated the transformative potential of the platform, achieving a remarkable 1008% increase in TB case detection.

Molbio’s WHO-endorsed and ICMR-approved solutions for TB detection, address critical barriers in the Philippines, such as geographic isolation, underutilization of laboratory testing, and limited access in rural and island communities. The recent approval of the PRORAD Atlas Ultraportable X-ray by the Philippines FDA paves the way for integrated, end-to-end TB screening and diagnosis, ensuring immediate linkage to treatment.

Health Secretary of Philippines Hon. Dr. Theodore J Herbosa said, “As we intensify our efforts to combat tuberculosis (TB) in the Philippines, the collaboration with India stands as a beacon of innovation and partnership. The integration of India’s indigenous diagnostic technologies, such as the Truenat® system, into our healthcare infrastructure is pivotal. Truenat®, known for its rapid and reliable molecular diagnostic capabilities, allows for swift and accurate TB screenings, enhancing our capacity to manage and eventually eliminate TB within our borders, especially in remote areas.

This collaboration is part of a broader, strengthening bilateral relationship between India and the Philippines, which now exceeds $3 billion in trade. India is a key supplier of pharmaceuticals, medical equipment, and diagnostic technologies, contributing significantly to our healthcare advancements. 

Our partnership with India is a prime example of how collaboration in health, technology, trade and defense can come together to address pressing challenges and enhance our bilateral ties, driving both healthcare progress and economic prosperity in our nations.”

As part of its ongoing commitment with Philippines, Molbio Diagnostics will host a high-impact panel at the 31st Philippine Coalition Against Tuberculosis (PhilCAT) Annual Convention on August 14–15, 2025, in Manila.

With a portfolio spanning more than 40 tests for infectious and non-infectious diseases, Molbio combines portability, speed, and accuracy to strengthen public health systems worldwide. Molbio’s ongoing studies include a multi-country project funded by the R2D2 TB Network that is exploring novel tongue swab–based molecular diagnostics to improve TB detection among children and people living with HIV/AIDS.

“By bringing testing closer to communities—whether on remote islands or underserved rural areas—we can close the gap in TB detection and treatment, helping the Philippines achieve its elimination targets. We are committed to strengthening the fight against infectious diseases across the globe, helping countries build more resilient and responsive health systems,” said Shiva Sriram, President of Molbio Diagnostics.

The post Philippines Accelerates TB Elimination Drive with India’s Community-Based Screening Solutions appeared first on newsmantra.in l Latest news on Politics, World, Bollywood, Sports, Delhi, Jammu & Kashmir, Trending news | News Mantra.

I. Nikshay Poshan Yojana (NPY) to TB patients
II. The incentive to Treatment Supporters
III. Incentive to Private Providers and
IV. Transport incentive to TB patients in the notified tribal areas

Releasing the Annual TB Report, Dr Harsh Vardhan commended the collective efforts of all who were involved in this task. “The Government of India under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji is committed to achieving the SDG goal of eliminating TB in the country by 2025, five years ahead of the Global Target. To align with the ambitious goal, the programme has been renamed from Revised National Tuberculosis Control Program (RNTCP) to National Tuberculosis Elimination Program (NTEP)’, he stated.

“As captured in the Annual report, there has been commendable achievement on various parameters of TB Control in the country. The ranking will surely encourage all the States/UTs to improve their performance to attain their targets. Early accurate diagnosis followed by prompt appropriate treatment is vital for ending TB.

The National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP) has expanded both the laboratory network as well as diagnostic facilities to cover the entire country. To End TB by 2025, expansion of TB services and addressing determinants of TB that are beyond health, through a multi-sectoral approach is necessary. All these efforts are yielding significant results.”

Highlighting the crucial aspect of stigma against TB patients in the country, which is hampering the fight against this disease, Dr Harsh Vardhan said, “We as a nation, need to come together, to fight against TB and the stigma surrounding it so that every TB patient can seek care with dignity and without discrimination. The community must act as a wellspring of support and comfort for the patient.”

Underscoring the crucial contribution that the private sector can make to the national TB programme by mandatory TB notification and providing quality TB care, he added that with both collaborative and regulatory steps, the country has notified 6,64,584 TB patients in 2019 in the private sector which amounts to a 22% increase in TB notification as compared to the year 2018.

“The salient feature of this year is that for the first time Central TB Division (CTD) introduced a quarterly ranking on TB elimination efforts by all the states and UTs. Treatment linkage of drug resistant TB patients, HIV testing of TB patients, Nutritional assistance to TB patients in the form of NIKSHAY Poshan Yojana (DBT), Universal Drug Susceptibility Testing (UDST) coverage among notified TB patients, TB Preventive Therapy (TPT) coverage and Financial expenditure are included in the assessment criteria”, the Health Minister highlighted.

Shri Ashwini Kumar Choubey, Minister of State, Health and Family Welfare said, “The Government has already incorporated a community-based response for TB as one of the key strategies to reach the unreached and to support TB patients in the course of their illness. Towards this end, over 700 TB Forums have been established at the State/UT and District level involving all stakeholders. These TB Forums will provide a multi-sectoral and community-led response to addressing the challenge of TB.”

In the categories of larger states with more than 50 lakh population, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh were awarded as best performing States. In the category of smaller states with less than 50 lakh population, Tripura and Nagaland were awarded. In the category of Union Territory, Dadara and Nagar Haveli, and Daman & Diu were chosen as the best performers.

The post Patients notified 14% rise appeared first on newsmantra.in l Latest news on Politics, World, Bollywood, Sports, Delhi, Jammu & Kashmir, Trending news | News Mantra.