India has initiated a landmark global clinical trial to scientifically assess the role of traditional Ayurveda alongside conventional tuberculosis (TB) therapy.
The study will include 1,250 newly diagnosed TB patients across eight institutions, examining parameters such as body weight, nutritional status, disease progression, quality of life, safety, and tolerability.
Union Minister Jitendra Singh, speaking at the launch, noted that many TB patients continue to suffer from weakness, weight loss, and reduced quality of life even after completing treatment, highlighting the need for supportive and host-directed therapies.
He emphasized that India’s rich Ayurvedic heritage could offer valuable complementary approaches, particularly in enhancing nutrition, immunity, and overall recovery.
The minister also pointed out that India accounts for nearly 25% of the global TB burden but has made notable progress, reducing incidence to about 187 cases per lakh population in 2024 a 21% decline since 2015.
He added that the country is pursuing an accelerated path toward TB elimination through early diagnosis, universal drug susceptibility testing, digital adherence tools, and patient-centric care under the National TB Elimination Programme.
The initiative stems from a Memorandum of Understanding signed on May 25, 2022, between the Ministry of Ayush and the Department of Biotechnology, and has since advanced through consultations, protocol development, and regulatory approvals.
