Union Health Minister Chairs High-Level Inter-Ministerial Meeting on TB Elimination
Union Health Minister Shri Jagat Prakash Nadda chaired a high-level inter-ministerial meeting on July 7, 2026, with the Union Minister of Youth Affairs & Sports, Labour & Employment Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, and Union Minister of State for Defence Shri Sanjay Seth to strengthen convergence and accelerate implementation of the TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan through a whole-of-government approach. The meeting focused on enhancing inter-sectoral coordination to expand tuberculosis prevention, early detection, treatment adherence, nutritional support, and community participation.
Minister Nadda highlighted Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent directive from the PRAGATI review meeting to harness India's youth power to transform the TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan into a nationwide people's movement. He emphasized that achieving TB elimination requires every ministry, institution, and stakeholder contributing through their respective strengths and outreach, with active participation of young people, community organizations, educational institutions, workplaces, and government departments.
Campaign Performance Metrics Since December 2024 Launch
Since its launch in December 2024, the TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan has achieved significant results: more than 28 crore vulnerable individuals have been screened for TB across the country, leading to the notification of over 39 lakh 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 remained undetected and continued transmitting the disease.
The campaign has strengthened patient-centric support mechanisms with more than 5.7 lakh Ni-kshay Mitras registering under the initiative and distributing 38.9 lakh nutrition baskets to TB patients. Additionally, over 20 lakh patients have been assessed and provided individualized support under the programme's differentiated care approach, ensuring treatment and care are tailored to their clinical and social needs.
Ministry-Specific Action Plans
For the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Minister Nadda urged scaling up engagement of MY Bharat volunteers and National Cadet Corps (NCC) cadets, building on the existing TB Mukt Bharat Toli model. This includes expanding volunteer-led mobilization for screening camps, strengthening the Experiential Learning Programme pathway that trains volunteers as Lead Ni-kshay Mitras, and deepening youth-led awareness efforts in schools, colleges, and communities.
From the Ministry of Defence, the Minister sought continued and expanded support from NCC cadets and defence personnel in community awareness rallies, mobilization for screening camps, household contact education, and nutrition support drives for TB patients, along with integrating TB awareness into existing NCC training camps, Republic Day and Independence Day activities, adventure camps, and rural outreach programmes.
Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya suggested stronger institutional convergence and coordinated action, highlighting that the country has nearly 6 lakh undergraduate medical students and around 2 lakh postgraduate medical students who can be meaningfully engaged through medical colleges. He proposed engaging officers from the Pratibha Setu programme (approximately 600 officers) in District TB Coordination Committees to serve as effective coordators between the Government of India, medical college Deans, and State Government's District TB Officers.
Workplace and Sector-Specific Interventions
The meeting deliberated on developing a TB-free workplace framework by integrating TB screening into occupational health practices, particularly in high-risk sectors such as mining, construction, textiles, transport, and among migrant workers. Discussions emphasized mobilizing employers, trade unions, and labour welfare institutions including the Employees' State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) and the Directorate General Factory Advice Service and Labour Institutes (DGFASLI) to facilitate workplace screening, ensure treatment continuity, and promote supportive measures for workers undergoing TB treatment.
Senior officials from multiple ministries attended the meeting including Smt. Punya Salila Srivastava (Secretary, Health), Dr. Pallavi Jain Govil (Secretary, Department of Youth Affairs), Shri Hari Ranjan Rao (Secretary, Department of Sports), Smt. Aradhana Patnaik (AS & MD, NHM), Vice Admiral Arti Sarin (DG, Armed Force Medical College), and Dr. Priyanka Shukla (CEO, MY Bharat).