The Government aims to get the country rid of measles by 2020 and tuberculosis by 2025.

The Health and Family Welfare Ministry, accepting the recommendation of Mission Steering Group, introduced measles rubella vaccine in routine immunisation to further reduce morbidity and mortality due to measles and rubella. As of December 18, 2017, more than 6.5 crore children have been vaccinated in 13 states/union territories, namely, Andhra Pradesh, Chandigarh, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Daman and Diu, Goa, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Lakshadweep, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu, Telangana and Uttarakhand, sources in the Ministry said.

Tuberculosis cases have reduced from 217 per lakh per year in 2015 to 211 per lakh per year in 2016 and mortality has reduced from 36 per cent per year in 2015 to 32 per lakh per year in 2016, the sources added. For leprosy, the target of elimination -- zero case at 10,000 population at national level -- was already achieved in 2005. The short term target is to reduce the Grade-II disability cases to less than one million population. Kala-azar too was eliminated last year; no case per 10,000 population was reported, the sources added.