Over 170,000 Ayushman Arogya Mandirs Boosting Early TB Detection: JP Nadda

New Delhi, Dec 7 (NationPress) The early identification of tuberculosis (TB) in India has seen a substantial improvement due to the easy accessibility of diagnostics available at more than 170,000 Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, declared Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare JP Nadda on Saturday.

He made this statement while inaugurating the intensified 100-Day TB elimination campaign in Panchkula, Haryana today.

This campaign, which will be executed in 347 of the most affected districts nationwide, aims to identify and treat missing TB cases, particularly in high-risk demographics, and to significantly lower TB mortality rates.

“Today, TB is detected at an early stage, thanks to the network of over 170,000 Ayushman Arogya Mandirs throughout the nation,” the Union Health Minister remarked, sharing that numerous new strategies have been initiated to make TB services more patient-friendly and decentralized.

This campaign aligns with India’s goal to eradicate TB by 2025, which is five years ahead of the global target set for 2030.

Nadda emphasized that the campaign signifies the government's steadfast commitment to eliminate TB and will propel the initiative towards a TB-Mukt Bharat (TB-free India).

The Minister additionally noted that over the past decade, there has been a significant expansion in diagnostic services.

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

“There was a time when TB was viewed as a 'slow death', leading to isolation of affected family members to curb its transmission. Numerous campaigns against TB have been conducted since 1962, but it was in 2018 when the Prime Minister envisioned the eradication of TB well before the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals deadline,” Nadda remarked.

The campaign aims to enhance case detection through intensified case-finding initiatives employing advanced screening and diagnostic technologies to minimize delays in diagnosis and the initiation of treatment.

Apart from early detection, the campaign will also focus on reducing TB-related mortality, as stated by Nadda.

The program will introduce innovative initiatives such as Differentiated TB Care to offer specialized care for high-risk patients alongside enhanced nutritional support through the Ni-kshay Poshan Yojana, he elucidated.

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

This has resulted in an improved TB treatment success rate of 87 percent, Nadda confirmed.

He praised the government's initiative to mandate that even private practitioners report any new TB patients to ensure prompt follow-up treatment.

“Although this may seem like a minor step, it has caused an 8-fold increase in TB notification rates within the private sector,” Nadda remarked.

He also pointed out that the rate of TB decline in India has doubled from 8.3 percent in 2015 to 17.7 percent today, significantly surpassing the global average. Additionally, he reported that TB-related deaths have significantly decreased in India by 21.4 percent over the last decade.