New Delhi, Aug 12: Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda on Wednesday called for stronger parliamentary and grassroots efforts to accelerate India’s fight against tuberculosis (TB), urging MPs from Odisha and Jharkhand to take an active role in strengthening detection, treatment and monitoring of TB services.
Nadda made the remarks during an interaction with MPs from the two states under the theme “Parliamentarians Championing a TB Mukt Bharat” during the ongoing Monsoon Session. Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Anupriya Patel and MoS Defence Sanjay Seth also attended the meeting.
The discussions focused on early detection, awareness, monitoring of TB services and ensuring that healthcare reaches vulnerable communities.
Reviewing the recently concluded second phase of the 100-Day TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan, officials highlighted that the campaign, launched on March 24 and concluded in July, covered nearly 1.58 lakh high-risk villages and urban wards across the country.
More than 2.2 crore vulnerable people were screened during the campaign, resulting in the detection of over 7 lakh new TB cases, including 1.97 lakh asymptomatic cases that might otherwise have remained undiagnosed.
Jharkhand notified 16,754 TB patients, including 4,574 asymptomatic cases, while Odisha reported 15,268 cases, including 3,514 asymptomatic cases, during the campaign.
Both states adopted targeted screening strategies to reach vulnerable populations, including people living in urban settlements, construction workers, migrant communities and mining areas. Ayushman Arogya Shivirs were also used to take screening and healthcare closer to communities.
Nadda urged parliamentarians to work closely with district administrations and healthcare facilities and regularly monitor the availability and quality of TB services in their constituencies.
He also stressed the importance of public participation and social mobilisation, saying TB elimination must become a sustained “Jan Andolan.”
The Health Minister called for greater emphasis on early diagnosis and treatment, along with patient-centred care and community participation to maintain the progress made in tackling the disease.
MPs from Odisha and Jharkhand pledged to strengthen awareness and stigma-reduction campaigns, promote Ni-kshay Shivirs for early detection and support closer monitoring of TB services at the district and block levels.
The meeting also highlighted the need to support TB-affected people beyond medical treatment. Participants discussed mobilising communities and organisations to provide nutritional, psychosocial and livelihood assistance to patients.
India has also expanded technology-led TB detection. According to the Health Ministry, molecular testing capacity has grown to more than 9,000 machines, while nearly 3,000 AI-enabled handheld X-ray units are being deployed for active case finding.
The government also cited data from the WHO Global TB Report 2025, according to which India recorded a 21 per cent decline in TB incidence between 2015 and 2024. The government has also cited a 92 per cent treatment success rate.
Nadda said sustained progress would depend on early detection, patient-centred treatment and active community participation.
The interaction was part of the government’s broader effort to strengthen collective responsibility among parliamentarians, state and district administrations, healthcare workers and communities in the drive towards a TB Mukt Bharat.
