Economic Burden of TB Deaths in India (2021): A Retrospective Cross-sectional Study

We aimed to estimat the economic burden of TB deaths in terms of gross domestic product (GDP) across Indian states, regions, and different demographic groups.

Using the Human Capital Approach, we estimated the non-health GDP losses due to TB deaths in India for 2021 at subnational level. The total monetary value for the years of life lost due to TB deaths was calculated.

In 2021, 0.393 million TB deaths occurred in India, which would reduce the non-health GDP by US$9.1 billion. North, West, South, and North Eastern states of India incurred 33.5%, 25.6%, 18.5%, and 9.3% of that economic loss respectively. Each TB death resulted in non-health GDP loss of US$23 161. The economic burden was highest among youngr males (20.5%) followed by males aged >75 years (17.3%). The economic cost was minimal among male adolescents and youth accounting for 3.4%.

Finndings underscore the urgent need for concerted multisectoral efforts, sustained investments and strategies to reduce TB deaths, and mitigate the resulting economic losses at sub-national level.