The TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan, launched in December 2024, has significantly accelerated India’s efforts to eliminate tuberculosis through active case finding, enhanced patient support and a whole-of-government approach.
Since its inception, more than 28 billion vulnerable individuals have been screened for TB across the country, leading to the notification of over 39 million TB patients.
Notably, 12.93 lakh asymptomatic TB patients were identified through active screening using chest X-rays, enabling early diagnosis of individuals who would otherwise have gone undetected and continued to transmit the disease within their communities.
The campaign has also strengthened patient support mechanisms.
More than 5.7 lakh Ni-kshay Mitras have registered under the initiative and distributed 38.9 lakh food baskets to TB patients.
In addition, over 20 lakh patients have been assessed and provided individualized support under the program’s differentiated care approach, ensuring that treatment and care are tailored to their clinical and social needs.
The meeting focused on enhancing cross-sectoral coordination to expand the reach of tuberculosis (TB) prevention, early detection, treatment adherence, nutritional support and community participation, leveraging the institutional strengths and extensive contact networks of participating ministries.
To improve TB interventions in the workplace, discussions focused on developing a TB-free workplace framework by integrating TB control into occupational health practices, particularly in high-risk sectors such as mining, construction, textiles, transport and among migrant workers.
Emphasis was also placed on mobilizing employers, trade unions and labor welfare institutions, including the Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) and the Directorate General of Factories and Labor Institutes Advisory Service (DGFASLI), to facilitate workplace control, ensure continuity of treatment and promote supportive measures for workers undergoing TB treatment.
The meeting was attended by Punya Salila Srivastava, Secretary, Union Ministry of Health; Dr. Pallavi Jain Govil, Secretary, Department of Youth Affairs; Hari Ranjan Rao, Secretary, Sports Department; Aradhana Patnaik, Additional Secretary and MD, National Health Mission; Vice Admiral Arti Sarin, DG, Armed Forces Medical College; Dr. Priyanka Shukla, CEO, MY Bharat and senior officials from these ministries.
