Union Health Minister J P Nadda Highlights India’s TB‑Mukt Bharat and Lung‑Screening Drive at WHO Assembly

<h3>Overview</h3> <p><strong>Union Health Minister Shri J P Nadda</strong> addressed a high‑level side‑event on “Ministerial Perspectives on Lung Health Screening” during the 79th World Health Assembly in Geneva. He linked timely screening, early diagnosis and equitable access to care with a resilient, people‑centred health system.</p> <h3>Key Developments</h3> <ul> <li>India has launched one of the world’s largest TB screening programmes under the <span class="key-term" data-definition="National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme – India’s flagship scheme to eliminate TB by 2025, involving active case finding, treatment and surveillance (GS3: Health)">National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (NTEP)</span> and the vision of a <span class="key-term" data-definition="TB‑Mukt Bharat – India’s mission to make the country free of tuberculosis through mass screening, treatment support and community mobilisation (GS3: Health)">TB‑Mukt Bharat</span>.</li> <li>Deployment of modern diagnostics – molecular testing platforms, digital chest X‑ray services, AI‑assisted interpretation tools, handheld screening devices and decentralized testing – especially in remote and underserved regions.</li> <li>Integration of lung health into primary care through <span class="key-term" data-definition="Ayushman Bharat Health and Wellness Centres – A network of primary‑care facilities providing comprehensive services, including preventive and curative care (GS3: Health)">Ayushman Bharat Health and Wellness Centres</span> and a strengthened frontline workforce.</li> <li>Launch of the <span class="key-term" data-definition="TB Mukt Bharat App – A mobile application featuring ‘Khushi’, an AI‑enabled multilingual chatbot that gives real‑time guidance on TB symptoms, entitlements and nearest diagnostic facilities (GS3: Health)">TB Mukt Bharat App</span> with the AI‑enabled chatbot “Khushi”.</li> <li>Call for global collaboration to mainstream lung health within <span class="key-term" data-definition="Universal Health Coverage – A health‑system goal ensuring that all people receive needed health services without financial hardship (GS3: Health)">Universal Health Coverage (UHC)</span>, expand affordable diagnostics, promote innovation and secure sustainable financing.</li> </ul> <h3>Important Facts</h3> <p>The Ministry has scaled up active case finding through house‑to‑house outreach, mobile teams and community campaigns targeting vulnerable groups. Digital chest X‑ray and AI tools are being used to cut diagnostic delays, while the “Khushi” chatbot works on entry‑level smartphones to bridge the gap between symptom onset and care. The Minister emphasized that technology must reach the “last mile” and be coupled with nutritional support, treatment adherence assistance and social protection.</p> <h3>UPSC Relevance</h3> <p>Understanding India’s TB elimination strategy is crucial for GS‑3 (Health) questions on communicable diseases, health‑system reforms and public‑private partnerships. The role of the <span class="key-term" data-definition="Stop TB Partnership – An international coalition of governments, NGOs and donors working to eradicate TB worldwide (GS3: Health)">Stop TB Partnership</span> illustrates multilateral cooperation, a frequent theme in GS‑2 (International Relations). The emphasis on equity, technology transfer and domestic manufacturing aligns with GS‑4 (Ethics) and GS‑3 (Economy) discussions on sustainable development.</p> <h3>Way Forward</h3> <p>India proposes to: (i) embed lung health in UHC frameworks; (ii) scale affordable diagnostics and digital tools; (iii) strengthen primary‑care networks for respiratory diseases; (iv) foster innovation, domestic production and technology transfer; and (v) ensure dedicated financing for early detection. The Minister reiterated India’s readiness to partner with governments, innovators and communities to deliver scalable lung‑screening solutions globally.</p>