Union Health Minister JP Nadda will launch the 100-Day TB Elimination Campaign in Panchkula, Haryana, on Saturday. This campaign aims to speed up the fight against tuberculosis (TB) by improving case detection, reducing delays in diagnosis, and enhancing treatment outcomes, especially for vulnerable groups.
The campaign will cover 347 districts across 33 states and union territories and is a key part of India’s effort to eliminate TB and create a TB-free nation.
It is part of the National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP) under the National Health Mission (NHM), aligned with the National Strategic Plan (NSP) for TB Elimination 2017-2025.
The NSP focuses on reducing TB cases, improving diagnostic and treatment methods, and addressing the disease’s socio-economic impact. This campaign reflects Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision from the 2018 End TB Summit, where he committed to a TB-free India by 2025.
Significant progress has been made in reducing TB in India. The TB incidence rate dropped by 17.7 per cent, from 237 per 100,000 people in 2015 to 195 per 100,000 in 2023. TB-related deaths also decreased by 21.4 per cent, from 28 per lakh in 2015 to 22 per lakh in 2023.
After COVID-19, India has stepped up its TB elimination efforts. In 2023, nearly 1.89 crore sputum tests and 68.3 lakh nucleic acid amplification tests were conducted to expand diagnostic access.
The NTEP also introduced new care packages and decentralised services, including shorter oral treatments for drug-resistant TB (DR-TB) patients.
The NTEP aims to reduce treatment delays, improve care quality, and address co-existing health conditions like malnutrition, diabetes, HIV, and substance abuse. The programme also expanded access to TB preventive treatment (TPT), reaching around 15 lakh beneficiaries.
The 100-Day TB Elimination Campaign will focus on strengthening diagnostics and treatment services, especially for vulnerable groups such as people in remote areas, marginalised communities, and those with co-morbidities. The campaign will target high-burden areas, improve access to diagnostics, and reduce treatment delays.
The initiative will use existing health infrastructure, including Ayushman Aarogya Mandirs, to bring TB services to local communities. Special care packages will be provided for individuals with additional health challenges, and nutritional support will be expanded through the Ni-kshay Poshan Yojana.
The campaign will also integrate the Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (PMTBMBA) to ensure that household contacts of TB patients receive full care and support.
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