Skip to main content
Anam, 17-years-old DR-TB patient
An MEDSF staff speaks with Anam*, a 17-year-old patient living with drug-resistant tuberculosis, and her mother outside the MEDSF clinic in Chembur. Mumbai, India, May 2023.
© Premananda Hessenkamp

In Mumbai, we treat complex cases of drug-resistant tuberculosis and work with health authorities to reduce high tuberculosis incidence and death rates in the area. We also provide comprehensive care to people living with advanced HIV in Bihar, essential healthcare via mobile clinics in remote areas of Chhattisgarh, and mental health services in Jammu and Kashmir. 

Our activities in 2024 in India

Data and information from the International Activity Report 2024.

MEDSF in India in 2024 In 2024, Médecins Sans Frontières (MEDSF) worked to address critical medical humanitarian needs among marginalised communities in India, who experience violence, neglect, exclusion, and healthcare disparities.
India IAR map 2024
Country map for the IAR 2024.
© MEDSF

In Bihar state, where there are limited treatment options and a high mortality rate for HIV, we cared for patients with advanced HIV disease. Our patients struggled with high costs of private healthcare before diagnosis, and suffered stigma after receiving their diagnosis. Working with the Bihar state Health Mission and Bihar state Department of Health and Family Welfare, we offered holistic advanced HIV care at Guru Gobind Singh hospital in Patna.

In Chhattisgarh state, despite an increase in violent clashes between government security forces and armed groups, we continued to run mobile clinics to deliver essential healthcare in remote areas, including safe abortion care. In 2024, we initiated a new mobile clinic in Hirmangunda, and collaborated with the Ministry of Health on a measles vaccination campaign following an outbreak. 

In Manipur state, the situation remained unstable following an outbreak of inter-ethnic conflict in 2023, which posed challenges to the provision of care to our HIV and tuberculosis (TB) patients, and to the transportation of supplies. 

In Mizoram state, we offered healthcare to refugees fleeing violence in Myanmar. At our clinic in Zokhawthar, we organised specialist referrals and delivered care in the surrounding area. We also provided relief items to newly arrived families in displacement camps.

In Mumbai, we handed over our project treating complex cases of drug-resistant TB to India’s National TB Elimination Program and the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation at the end of 2024. Since 2006, this project played a pivotal role in improving outcomes for patients who had no other treatment options.

In Jammu and Kashmir, where years of conflict have taken a toll on people’s mental health, we continued to provide counselling services.
 

In 2024
Kala azar-HIV co-infection in Bihar, Animated explainer | ENG
video

Explaining kala azar-HIV co-infection

Have you heard of kala azar?

Kala azar is a neglected but potentially fatal tropical disease. India accounts for 30 per cent of cases worldwide.

This short animation explains what kala azar is, how it relates to HIV, and what we are doing in response.

Since 80 per cent of India's kala azar cases are reported in Bihar, we set up a programme there in 2007.

People living with HIV are particularly vulnerable to kala azar, so since 2016 we have been focusing on treating patients co-infected with the two diseases, in partnership with the Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Sciences (RMRIMS) in Patna, Bihar.

 
endTB clinical trial results
India

MEDSF hands over drug-resistant tuberculosis project in Mumbai after 18 years

Project Update 24 Dec 2024
 
Dr Yasoda Kurra, MEDSF doctor, examining a patient at the Umeed Ki Kiran Clinic, Jahangirpuri, Delhi
India

MEDSF to close sexual violence treatment centre in Delhi

Project Update 16 Nov 2023
 
A. Prun Kumar
World AIDS Day

Why are people living with HIV still dying of AIDS?

Opinion 1 Dec 2021
 
Imphal COVID-19 Intervention
Coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic

Providing support for COVID-19 in Manipur

Project Update 5 Nov 2021
 
AS-DRC-girls-web
Safe abortion care

A revolution in safe abortion care

Opinion 28 Sep 2021
 
MEDSF nurse distributing maks and soap in the hospital.jpg
Coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic

Four questions on India’s second wave of COVID-19

Project Update 30 Apr 2021

Contact us

Treating kala azar-HIV co-infection in Bihar, India