Healthtech Platform eKure Launches Advanced TB Screening Tool

In collaboration with the Telangana State TB Cell, this initiative aims to transform initial TB screening, improving access to and care coverage for tuberculosis cases.

eKure, a healthtech platform developed by Mumbai-based Entitled Solutions, a financial wellness platform, has rolled out an advanced tuberculosis screening tool. 

This initiative, undertaken in partnership with the Telangana State TB Cell, aims to revolutionize initial TB screening, enhancing healthcare access and coverage for tuberculosis cases across India.

Talking about the collaboration, Anshul Khurana, cofounder & CEO, Entitled Solutions, said, "The association with the Telangana State TB Cell is a step toward remedying this disparity through scalable digital technology solutions." 

He emphasized the platform's commitment to leveraging technology to bridge gaps in healthcare access, particularly among vulnerable populations such as gig and platform workers in the unorganized sector.

Expanding Access Through Digital Solutions

The eKure platform utilizes user-friendly solutions, including interactive multilingual WhatsApp bots, to facilitate early presumptive detection of TB. These tools streamline the screening process, enhance access to doctor teleconsultations, offer affordable health products, and disseminate credible disease-specific information to underserved communities.

This initiative aligns with the objectives of the National TB Elimination Program (NTEP), reflecting a concerted effort to address healthcare disparities and improve outcomes for TB patients nationwide.

By leveraging digital innovations, eKure aims to democratize healthcare access, ensuring that even the most marginalized communities benefit from timely screening and treatment.

Efforts Towards TB Diagnosis & Treatment

The development of this screening tool addresses a pressing need within India's healthcare landscape. With tuberculosis persisting as a significant infectious cause of mortality globally, India has been intensifying its efforts to detect and treat the disease. 

In 2023 alone, over 25.37 Lakh TB cases were reported across the country, underscoring the urgency for improved screening and treatment measures.

In parallel with eKure's launch, global health organizations and industry leaders are intensifying efforts to combat tuberculosis through innovative diagnostic and treatment strategies. 

The World Health Organization (WHO) recently unveiled new recommendations on the utilization of targeted next-generation sequencing (NGS) tests for the diagnosis of drug-resistant tuberculosis. 

Additionally, MedGenome, a leading genomics company, partnered with Darshan GIVA Foundation to introduce a novel approach to TB diagnosis and treatment. This collaboration focuses on providing free whole genome sequencing (WGS) testing to pre-diagnosed drug-resistant TB (DRTB) patients, aiming to integrate WGS-based TB testing into India's National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme.

In recent initiatives, the Tamil Nadu Health Department partnered with the Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) to eliminate tuberculosis by 2030. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) seeks to procure and supply diagnostic equipment for tuberculosis under IOCL’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Initiative.