Union Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda met Tamil Nadu MPs during the Winter Session under the “Parliamentarians Championing a TB‑Mukt Bharat” initiative to strengthen India’s TB elimination efforts.
Similar engagements have been held with MPs from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, and Gujarat.
The session highlighted MPs’ role in community action, stigma reduction, early detection, and timely treatment. Ministry officials, including the National Health Mission Mission Director, provided updates on national and state progress and strategies for Tamil Nadu through collaboration among MPs, state health authorities, and district teams.
India’s TB burden declined 21% from 237 to 187 cases per lakh (2015–2024), nearly double the global rate. Mortality dropped 25%, and treatment coverage exceeds 92%. AI-enabled handheld X-ray devices and over 9,300 NAAT machines now cover all blocks. BPaL‑M treatment has cut drug-resistant TB therapy from 9–12 months to 6 months, and Nikshay Poshan Yojana disbursed over ₹4,400 crore to 1.3 crore patients since 2018.
In Tamil Nadu, challenges persist among urban slums, tribal/migrant populations, and unorganised workers, with diabetes, tobacco, and alcoholism increasing TB vulnerability.
The meeting stressed proactive screening, differentiated care, programme reviews, local advocacy, and MPs’ field engagement to ensure early detection, effective treatment, and comprehensive support. MPs reaffirmed their commitment to champion TB elimination in their constituencies.
