Union Health Minister JP Nadda on Wednesday, 1 July chaired two high-level review meetings in New Delhi — one on the TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan and its 100-day campaign with the government of the National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi, and another on dengue preparedness ahead of the monsoon season. Nadda stressed that closing the gap between tuberculosis elimination efforts and on-ground outcomes requires a broad-based people's movement, not just health system action.

Jan Bhagidari at the Centre of TB Strategy

Nadda made clear that TB elimination cannot be achieved by the health machinery alone. He called for active participation from communities, public representatives, and civil society — a model the government refers to as Jan Bhagidari (people's participation).

The minister directed that Members of Parliament, Members of Legislative Assemblies, and Municipal Councillors be regularly briefed by health officials on the TB burden in their respective constituencies. These briefings, he said, should cover the challenges being faced, the solutions being deployed, and the specific role elected representatives can play in accelerating case detection, ensuring treatment adherence, and mobilising community support.

Nadda described public representatives as a critical bridge between the government and citizens, arguing their involvement could significantly strengthen grassroots implementation. He also directed that every ward have a designated senior government officer to monitor campaign progress — a move aimed at tightening accountability at the local level.

AI-Powered X-Ray Machines to Boost TB Detection

Highlighting technology as a force multiplier, Nadda announced that support would be extended for a greater number of handheld X-ray machines integrated with Artificial Intelligence (AI) to enable early diagnosis and improve case detection rates. The use of AI-assisted portable imaging is seen as particularly important for reaching populations in areas with limited access to conventional diagnostic infrastructure.

This comes amid the government's broader push to eliminate tuberculosis in India by 2025 — five years ahead of the global Sustainable Development Goal target of 2030. India accounts for a significant share of the global TB burden, making community-level mobilisation and early detection critical levers.

Dengue Preparedness Review Ahead of Monsoon

In the second meeting, Nadda reviewed Delhi's readiness to handle the seasonal surge in dengue cases. The session assessed the evolving epidemiological situation, the preparedness of healthcare institutions, and the readiness of civic agencies across the capital.

A comprehensive action plan for dengue prevention and control in Delhi was presented, covering disease surveillance, vector management, case detection, clinical management, and public awareness. Officials briefed the minister on both the national dengue scenario and the specific measures being undertaken in the NCT.

Nadda noted that dengue incidence is currently low, with a mortality rate of 0.11 per cent — a figure he described as very low. However, he cautioned that vigilance must be maintained as the monsoon months, which typically drive a spike in vector-borne diseases, approach. He specifically stressed the importance of preparedness in the forthcoming months.

What Comes Next

With the monsoon already underway and the TB 100-day campaign in active implementation, the dual focus of Wednesday's meetings signals the Centre's intent to use the coming weeks as a critical window for both disease surveillance and community outreach. Whether the Jan Bhagidari model translates into measurable gains on TB case detection — and whether ward-level monitoring delivers accountability — will determine the campaign's real impact.