18 Mumbaikars die daily due to TB (tuberculosis): NGO report

New Delhi : An NGO has released a report claiming that nothing less than 18 per cent Mumbaikars lose their lives due to TB (tuberculosis). 

The number of Mumbaikars dropping out of rigorous TB treatment increased from 9% in 2012 to 19% in 2016-17, mentions data released by the NGO Praja.

Mumbai civic official, however, rejected the data; "A health programme cannot be analysed based on some data randomly gathered using RTI," Times of India quotes civic TB officer Dr Daksha Shah. 

Praja brings out a health report every year, analysing data gathered from BMC's health department using RTI. It uses information mentioned in death certificates to calculate the toll due to various diseases - a step the BMC has been opposed to because its officials say death certificates are not scientifically filled out (BMC is in the process of conducting educational programmes for doctors on how to fill a death certificate in accordance with World Health Organisation norms).