Tamil Nadu News

Kasanoi Erappila Thittam update

June 1 , 2026 5 hrs 0 min 28 0

A recent study found that Tuberculosis (TB) death rates declined significantly in six districts of Tamil Nadu after the launch of Kasanoi Erappila Thittam (TN-KET) in April 2022.
TN-KET (Tamil Nadu – TB Death-Free Project) is India’s first State-wide and State-specific programme focused on reducing TB-related deaths.
The initiative was implemented in Dharmapuri, Karur, Villupuram, Kanniyakumari, Cuddalore, and Salem, where TB death rates showed sustained decline over two years.
The programme identifies TB patients with severe illness early and provides comprehensive clinical assessment, inpatient care, and management of co-morbidities such as diabetes, anaemia, and liver disease.
The study was conducted by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) – National Institute of Epidemiology (NIE) and the Tamil Nadu TB Cell.
Following implementation, Tamil Nadu recorded an overall reduction of nearly 2.5% in TB deaths, highlighting the effectiveness of early diagnosis and specialised care.