New Delhi, August 31: Health Minister JP Nadda, alongside Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth, reviewed the efforts to eliminate tuberculosis (TB) under the PM-Pragati initiative. The meeting emphasized improving coordination among various ministries for the ‘TB-Free India Campaign.’
The Ministry of Health highlighted the need for early detection, prevention, community awareness, screening, and sustained community engagement to achieve tangible results and effective changes at the grassroots level.
The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports is enhancing outreach through ‘My India’ volunteers, while the Defence Ministry is leveraging NCC cadets to raise awareness at the community level. Educational institutions and workplaces are also being integrated into this national effort, which includes strengthening TB screening and support for ESI workers.
This collaborative approach, involving all sections of society, aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision for a ‘TB-Free India’ and aims to accelerate collective efforts.
On the same day, Nadda chaired a progress assessment meeting at the rural health training center in Najafgarh. The review focused on enhancing patient care, infrastructure, human resources, educational activities, and the digital health system.
Nadda assessed the progress made since the meeting on April 13, 2026, directing all relevant agencies and institutions to complete ongoing tasks promptly and ensure coordinated implementation of planned initiatives. He emphasized strict monitoring of assigned tasks, timely availability of human resources and equipment, and maintaining high-quality patient care and medical training.
The center’s outpatient department (OPD) and emergency services are fully operational. It also houses facilities for rabies vaccination for animal bites, snake antivenom, and a central drug de-addiction service department, along with testing laboratories and ambulance services. A minor surgery unit is also in operation.
The rural health training center in Najafgarh has been connected to the Medico-Legal Examination and Post Mortem Reporting (Medlip) system, facilitating electronic record-keeping for patients. It is also linked to the Ayushman Bharat scheme, making services more accessible to eligible beneficiaries. The center is progressing towards obtaining national quality assurance certification for urban primary health centers and becoming a model primary health center.
In August 2026, the center recorded an average of approximately 47,000 OPD consultations and 9,000 emergency cases, alongside 221 minor treatment procedures. TB symptom checks have been incorporated into routine OPD and primary health center medical consultations under the TB-Free India Campaign.
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