National Tuberculosis Institute

Tuberculosis has long been acknowledged as a pressing public health challenge. Tuberculosis (TB) is attributed to Mycobacterium tuberculosis, a bacterium typically transmitted through the air by individuals actively sick with TB, often through coughing. The ICMR survey conducted from 1955 to 1958 revealed alarming statistics, indicating 4 sputum smear-positive cases and 16 radiologically positive cases of pulmonary TB per 1000 individuals in both rural and urban areas. Recognizing the gravity of this situation, the Indian Government took proactive steps by establishing the National Tuberculosis Institute in 1959 within the AVALON building in Bangalore, generously provided by the former Maharaja of Mysore. This strategic move aimed to address the widespread prevalence of TB by fostering research, devising effective strategies, and implementing comprehensive programs for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of tuberculosis.

The establishment of this specialized institute marked a pivotal moment in India’s commitment to combatting TB, catalyzing significant advancements in research, diagnostics, treatment modalities, and the implementation of nationwide TB control initiatives. The Institute was accredited as a WHO Collaborating Centre for TB research and training in 1985. The Institute had also served as the nodal centre for operational research related to RNTCP. The major activities of a nodal centre are to organize workshops and dissemination of research data through publications. Objectives for establishing NTI were as under:

1. To formulate a nationally applicable, economically feasible and scientifically valid TB control program.
2. To train the workforce for the implementation of NTEP.
3. To provide technical support to CTD and State TB units for effective implementation of TB control
4. To monitor and supervise the NTEP
5. To undertake operation research
6. To serve as National Reference Laboratory (NRL)