PM Modi calls for targeted interventions in TB elimination efforts

The Prime Minister called for scaling up palmy strategies nationwide and reaffirmed India’s committedness to eliminating TB. File | Photo Credit: ANI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi connected Tuesday (May 13, 2025) underscored the value of targeted interventions and technology-led outreach successful the combat against tuberculosis, portion chairing a high-level reappraisal gathering connected the National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP) astatine his authoritative residence.

The Prime Minister emphasised the request to analyse TB diligent information based connected urban-rural distinctions and occupational categories. “This volition assistance place susceptible groups requiring aboriginal investigating and treatment, particularly workers successful construction, mining, textile and different high-risk sectors,” Mr. Modi observed.

Highlighting the curability of TB with regular treatment, the Prime Minister said the nationalist indispensable beryllium made much aware, with little fearfulness and much support. He called upon Nikshay Mitra —volunteers who enactment TB patients, to leverage integer platforms and interactive technologies to prosecute with patients effectively.

He reiterated the relation of nationalist information (Jan Bhagidari) and cleanliness successful the elimination strategy, and stressed the value of ensuring that each diligent receives uninterrupted treatment.

During the meeting, the Prime Minister reviewed encouraging information from the World Health Organization’s Global TB Report 2024, which notes an 18% simplification successful TB incidence successful India - from 237 to 195 per lakh colonisation betwixt 2015 and 2023 - treble the planetary pace. TB mortality successful India fell by 21%, and attraction sum roseate to 85%.

Officials besides presented updates connected cardinal infrastructure enhancements nether NTEP, including the enlargement of the TB diagnostic web to 8,540 NAAT (Nucleic Acid Amplification Testing) laboratories and 87 civilization and cause susceptibility investigating labs. The existent diagnostic infrastructure includes implicit 26,700 X-ray units, with 500 AI-enabled handheld devices already deployed and an further 1,000 successful the pipeline.

The decentralisation of TB services - escaped screening, diagnosis, treatment, and nutritional enactment - done Ayushman Arogya Mandirs was highlighted arsenic a cornerstone of the programme’s outreach.

New initiatives introduced successful caller months see shorter cause regimens for drug-resistant TB, indigenous molecular diagnostics, nutrition interventions, and screening successful high-risk congregate settings specified arsenic mines, operation sites, municipality slums and beverage gardens. Since 2018, the Ni-kshay Poshan Yojana has facilitated Direct Benefit Transfer payments to 1.28 crore TB patients, with the inducement magnitude raised to ₹1,000 successful 2024.

Under the Nikshay Mitra initiative, 2.55 lakh volunteers person distributed 29.4 lakh nutrition baskets to patients. The Prime Minister called for scaling up palmy strategies nationwide and reaffirmed India’s committedness to eliminating TB.

The gathering besides reviewed the 100-Day TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan, which screened 12.97 crore individuals successful high-focus districts, resulting successful the detection of 7.19 lakh TB cases - including 2.85 lakh asymptomatic patients. Over 1 lakh caller Nikshay Mitra joined the effort during the campaign.

Union Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister Dr. P.K. Mishra, and different elder officials were contiguous astatine the meeting.

Published - May 13, 2025 11:25 p.m. IST