‘Major public health problem’: 40% Delhiites carry tuberculosis germs, says eco survey

New Delhi: Tuberculosis (TB) continues to pose a significant public health challenge in Delhi, with nearly 40% of its population infected with its germs, making them vulnerable to the disease if their immunity weakens, according to Delhi Economic Survey 2025–26.

“Tuberculosis is the most pressing health problem in our country as it traps people in a vicious cycle of poverty and disease, inhibiting economic and social growth of the community at large. It still remains a major public health problem in Delhi. Forty per cent of our population in Delhi is... vulnerable to the disease...,” the survey states, adding that scanning centres and campaigns like TB Mukt Bharat are important in its mitigation.

The report also highlights persistent health risks in general and ongoing efforts to strengthen healthcare infrastructure in Delhi.

It notes that the capital’s emergency response system, Centralised Accident and Trauma Services (CATS), currently operates 330 ambulances, with plans to expand the fleet to 1,000. In 2025 (till Nov), CATS responded to over 5 lakh calls and successfully ferried more than 4.25 lakh patients.

Delhi’s healthcare capacity has seen gradual improvement over the years, according to the survey. The number of hospital beds per 1,000 people has increased from 2.73 in 2015-16 to 2.84 in 2025-26, factoring in both public and private facilities. At present, 11 hospitals are under construction, while 13 existing ones are being remodelled. These upgrades are expected to add around 5,452 beds upon completion.

Govt hospital capacity in the city has grown, with beds under the health and family welfare department increasing from 12,464 in 2020 to 15,659 by Dec 2025.

That said, private hospitals continue to dominate the city’s healthcare capacity, accounting for 53.4% of total beds. Govt facilities under the Delhi administration contribute 24.5%, those operated by the Centre 15.9%, and those under local bodies like MCD about 6%.

Public health spending has declined slightly, the survey states. Expenditure on health as a share of Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) fell to 0.68% in 2023-24 from 0.83% in the previous year.

The survey reports relatively controlled trends of communicable diseases. As of Dec 6, 2025, Delhi recorded 168 chikungunya cases with no deaths, 1,399 dengue cases with two deaths and 719 malaria cases without fatalities.

In terms of HIV/AIDS, the capital has an estimated adult prevalence rate of 0.3%, with over 59,000 people living with HIV. Around 2,590 new infections and 927 related deaths were reported in 2024-25. Between April and Oct 2025, over 8.2 lakh individuals were screened, leading to the detection of 3,274 cases.

Delhi govt has strengthened human resources in healthcare, recruiting 926 nursing officers, 141 paramedical staff and 127 specialists, while creating 4,478 new healthcare posts. Additionally, it is enforcing strict measures against substandard drugs, with 15 out of 397 tested samples failing quality standards.