The Truenat platform, a quick molecular test for diagnosing tuberculosis (TB) in the lungs, other parts of the body, and TB resistant to rifampicin, created in India, received praise for its role in fighting TB and as a potential part of worldwide healthcare solutions during the 77th World Health Assembly in Geneva.
Developed by Molbio, a Goa-based company specializing in point-of-care molecular diagnostics, Truenat was introduced in 2017. It’s a real-time quantitative micro-PCR system, a portable device powered by batteries, suitable for use in labs, health centers, and field settings. Truenat provides results from samples within an hour and can detect over 40 diseases.
During the World Health Assembly, The Global Fund, which partners with the WHO to enhance health systems globally, commended India’s efforts to eliminate TB through widespread awareness campaigns and intensive monitoring programs employing digital technologies, as per a press release from Molbio.
The Global Fund observed that India’s innovative approaches in the TB program, including the utilization of Truenat machines and handheld X-ray devices designed for challenging conditions, could serve as examples for other countries.
Sriram Natarajan, CEO of Molbio, expressed gratitude for such acknowledgment, especially as Truenat has gained global traction, with around 10,000 installations worldwide. “Countries that have adopted Truenat have seen significant enhancements in identifying cases,” he noted.
Natarajan mentioned that TrueNat is operational in over 7,000 primary health centers and community health centers under the National TB Elimination Program and is also utilized in approximately 1,500 private labs across India.
At the Assembly, Union Health Secretary Apurva Chandra urged The Global Fund to persist in supporting the TB program to bolster the capacities of public health systems, according to a release from the Press Information Bureau.
Prompt diagnosis and treatment are vital in tackling TB, which claims around 480,000 lives in India annually, translating to over 1,400 patients per day. The WHO reports over 10 million new TB cases each year, with India alone bearing 27% of the global TB burden.
