A study involving 1,482 tuberculosis (TB) patients across Assam, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal revealed that 30% to 61% experienced catastrophic costs, primarily due to diagnosis delays and income loss during treatment. Conducted by the George Institute for Global Health, Indira Gandhi Government Medical College, and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, the study found an average delay of 7-9 weeks before starting treatment, leading to significant financial burdens from repeated consultations and tests.