Most 'missing' or 'unreported' cases are either not properly diagnosed or are treated by private doctors.
The Global Tuberculosis Report - 2016 released by the World Health Organisation highlights the problem in India's battle with the disease. The results show that the number of TB cases rose largely because researchers found that earlier estimates in India, from 2000-2015, were far too low.
About 60% of global tuberculosis cases were reported from six countries - Indonesia, China, Nigeria, Pakistan, South Africa and India. The report also shows that India along with China and Russia account for the almost 50% of the global multi-drug resistant TB cases. WHO estimates that 480,000 people fell ill with MDR-TB in 2015.
The report shows the major challenges in the form of gaps in TB testing, saying of the estimated 10.4 million new cases in 2015, only 6.1 million were detected and officially notified.
WHO report blames the 4.3 million missing cases to under-reporting of TB cases, especially in countries with large unregulated private sector, and under-diagnosis in countries with poor access to healthcare.
A recent study published in the 'Lancet' also showed that the 'missing' or 'unreported' cases are either not properly diagnosed or are not notified to the government by private sector doctors.
Speaking to NDTV Sreenivas Nair, co-author of the study said, "A large section of the population is being treated in the private sector and these are not notified to the government. Absence of quality surveillance data on privately-treated patients and commercial sales of drugs add up to the disease's burden estimates."
India accounts for 27% of the global TB burden. The report revised the estimated number of TB cases in India to 28 lakhs as against 22 lakhs reported last year. The revised estimates are based on data from various sources, including sub-national prevalence surveys and enhanced TB notification from the private sector.
24-year-old physiotherapist Saurabh Rane was first diagnosed with TB in October 2013 and his treatment was completed only in May 2016. It wasn't an easy road to recovery for Mr Rane. "For 4 months, doctors kept saying it's nothing. But I ended up back at the doctor's with high fever and finally was diagnosed at a private hospital in Mumbai. During the recovery process, I ran a 10 km marathon. I was physically, emotionally and financially drained, but the only thing that kept me going was the support from family and friends."
Mr Rane, now works in the public health sector and is an avid marathoner and trekker. He also encourages other TB patients in their battle with the disease.