Over 1.7 Lakh Ayushman Arogya Mandirs Enhancing TB Detection: Nadda

New Delhi, Dec 7 (NationPress) The early detection of tuberculosis (TB) in India has seen remarkable improvement due to the convenient access to diagnostic facilities available at over 1.7 lakh Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, stated Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare JP Nadda on Saturday.

He made this announcement during the inauguration of the intensified 100-Day TB elimination campaign in Panchkula, Haryana today.

This initiative will be rolled out in 347 high-burden districts nationwide, with the objective of identifying and treating unreported TB cases, particularly among high-risk populations, while significantly lowering TB-related fatalities.

“Today, TB is diagnosed at an earlier stage, thanks to the extensive network of over 1.7 lakh Ayushman Arogya Mandirs throughout the nation,” expressed the Union Health Minister, noting that numerous innovative strategies have been implemented to make TB services more patient-friendly and decentralized.

This campaign is part of India's mission to eliminate TB by 2025, which is five years ahead of the global deadline of 2030.

Nadda emphasized that the campaign demonstrates the government’s steadfast commitment to eradicate TB and will provide a fresh impetus towards achieving the goal of TB-Mukt Bharat (TB-free India).

The Minister further pointed out that over the past decade, the government has significantly enhanced diagnostic services.

“The number of laboratories has surged from 120 in 2014 to 8,293 labs today,” he said.

“There was a period when TB was viewed as a ‘slow death’ and even family members diagnosed with TB faced isolation to avert its spread. Since 1962, numerous campaigns have targeted TB, but in 2018, the Prime Minister envisioned eliminating TB well ahead of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals deadline,” Nadda remarked.

The campaign seeks to enhance case detection through focused case-finding initiatives utilizing advanced screening and diagnostic technologies to minimize delays in diagnosis and initiation of treatment.

In addition to promoting early detection, the campaign will also focus on reducing TB mortality, as highlighted by Nadda.

The program will introduce “novel initiatives such as Differentiated TB Care to ensure specialized treatment for high-risk patients, alongside increased nutritional assistance through the Ni-kshay Poshan Yojana,” he elaborated.

Moreover, to combat drug-sensitive TB, the Union Government has implemented a daily regimen that includes a new, shorter, and more effective treatment course.

This “has increased the TB treatment success rate to 87 percent,” Nadda stated.

He also praised the government's decision to mandate that private practitioners report any new TB cases to ensure immediate follow-up on treatment.

“While this may seem like a minor change, it has resulted in an 8-fold increase in TB notifications from the private sector,” Nadda noted.

Additionally, he highlighted that the rate of TB decline in India has accelerated from 8.3 percent in 2015 to 17.7 percent today, which surpasses the global average. He also reported that TB-related deaths in India have decreased by 21.4 percent over the past decade.