Union Health Minister JP Nadda Launches “TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan” in Haryana to Combat Tuberculosis

Panchkula, Haryana, December 7, 2024 — Union Health Minister JP Nadda launched the TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan on Saturday in Panchkula, Haryana, marking the beginning of a 100-day campaign aimed at combating Tuberculosis (TB) across India. The initiative focuses on rapidly detecting and treating TB patients in 347 districts most affected by the disease, as part of the government’s broader efforts to eliminate TB by 2030, ahead of the global deadline.

At the launch event, Nadda emphasized the government’s dedication to eradicating TB, citing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s bold 2018 declaration to “end TB” in India. “When people used to say ‘fight against’ TB, in 2018 our Prime Minister Narendra Modi said ‘end TB’. This was a very bold statement for the world,” Nadda remarked. He added that despite the setbacks caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the government remains committed to achieving a TB-free India, though the goal might take some time beyond 2025.

The TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan campaign is integral to India’s strategy of eliminating TB before the 2030 deadline set by the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. Nadda also reflected on the historical stigma associated with TB, noting that in the past, TB patients were often isolated due to fear of the disease’s spread. He praised the Prime Minister’s vision for a TB-free India, which aims to surpass the global deadline for eradication.

Highlighting recent advancements in TB treatment, Nadda pointed out that India now boasts over 1.7 lakh Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, which are pivotal in early TB detection. He also underscored the introduction of a daily drug regimen for sensitive TB cases, which has shortened treatment periods and significantly increased the TB treatment success rate to 87%. Furthermore, the government has provided Rs 3,338 crore through direct benefit transfers under the Ni-kshay support scheme, benefiting over 1.17 crore TB patients.

Nadda shared encouraging statistics, revealing that the rate of TB decline in India has more than doubled, from 8.3% in 2015 to 17.7% today, significantly outpacing the global average. Over the past decade, TB-related deaths in India have decreased by 21.4%.

MP Nayab Singh Saini also addressed the gathering, emphasizing the importance of government initiatives like the Jan Bhagidari, Ni-kshay Poshan Yojana, Fit India, and Khelo India campaigns, which contribute to the fight against TB. He highlighted the government’s focus on the “4Ts” — Test, Track, Treat, and Technology — as a comprehensive approach to eliminating TB.

The TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan is a major step forward in India’s ongoing battle against TB, aiming to detect and treat the disease more effectively, reduce its transmission, and ultimately achieve a TB-free nation.