Dulloo calls for accelerating efforts towards making TB-Free J&K
Srinagar : Chief Secretary, Atal Dulloo, Tuesday chaired a comprehensive review meeting of the ongoing Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan to assess the progress achieved across the Union Territory and chart out a strategy for accelerating efforts towards tuberculosis elimination.
The meeting was attended by Commissioner Secretary, Health & Medical Education (H&ME); Mission Director, National Health Mission (NHM); Managing Director, JKMSCL; Principals of Government Medical Colleges (GMCs); Director, Health Services, Kashmir/Jammu; and Senior Faculty Members from various medical institutions across the UT.
Reviewing district-wise performance, the Chief Secretary noted that while several districts have achieved encouraging results, there remains considerable scope for improvement in certain critical indicators. He directed the Health & Medical Education Department to intensify efforts in districts reporting lower coverage of X-ray screening, differentiated TB care, TB preventive treatment and nutritional support.
He emphasized on expanding the coverage achieved in screening populations residing in identified high-risk villages, directing district administrations and health authorities to substantially increase the number of NikshayShivirs and ensure saturation coverage of all notified high-risk villages within the stipulated timelines. He emphasised optimum utilisation of hand-held X-ray units and greater outreach in remote and vulnerable areas.
While reviewing the implementation of the NikshayPoshan Yojana, the Chief Secretary instructed the concerned authorities to complete all pending beneficiary authentication and ensure timely release of financial assistance to the eligible patients. He further directed that all pending cases be cleared through a special drive so that no patient is deprived of entitled benefits.
The Chief Secretary also called for intensified efforts to enhance TB Preventive Treatment coverage among household contacts and healthcare workers, strengthen differentiated care protocols, improve Poshan Kit distribution and expand community participation through NikshayMitras.
Dulloo also stressed the need to improve the uptake of the recently launched TB Mukt Bharat App and Khushi Chatbot, observing that digital tools can significantly enhance treatment adherence, patient counselling and service delivery. He directed all concerned doctors and field functionaries to ensure registration and active utilisation of the platform by every notified TB patient.
Reviewing the progress, the Chief Secretary observed that the performance reflects the efforts made by the healthcare workers, district administrations and community volunteers engaged in the campaign. He stressed that sustained efforts are essential to maintain momentum and achieve the national goal of eliminating tuberculosis.
The Commissioner Secretary, H&ME, M.Raju took this occasion to present the detailed overview of the achievements, challenges and future action plans under the TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan being implemented across the districts of J&K.
The Commissioner Secretary apprised the meeting that Jammu & Kashmir has emerged as one of the best performing regions in the country under the ongoing 100-Day TB Mukt Bharat Campaign, securing 2nd rank among States and Union Territories under Phase-II of the national campaign launched on March 24, 2026.
The Chief Secretary was apprised that J&K has achieved notable success in several critical indicators, including vulnerable population screening, presumptive TB testing, TB notification, drug-resistant TB detection, differentiated TB care, nutritional support and community participation through NikshayMitras.
The MD, NHM, Akriti Sagar presented that over 2.45 lakh vulnerable individuals have been screened during the ongoing campaign, while 70 percent of the enrolled vulnerable population has undergone X-ray examination, surpassing the national benchmark.
She further added that the UT has also recorded 90 percent utilisation of NAAT-based molecular diagnostic testing, ensuring faster and more accurate diagnosis of tuberculosis cases.
The review further revealed that J&K has maintained strong performance in TB case detection, with 4,472 TB cases notified during the first five months of 2026, representing about 40 percent of the annual target. The programme has also strengthened presumptive TB testing, recording over 2.52 lakh tests across the Union Territory during the current year.
It was noted that more than 2,100 TB patients have received Poshan Kits during the current year under community support initiatives, while the number of registered NikshayMitras has increased to over 13,100 reflecting growing societal participation in supporting TB patients.
The Chief Secretary was informed that 1,504 TB patients have been assessed under Differentiated TB Care, ensuring personalised treatment and management based on disease severity and associated vulnerabilities.
Moreover it was highlighted that significant improvement has also been registered in TB Preventive Treatment (TPT) coverage, which increased from 7 percent during Phase-I to 34 percent during Phase-II, indicating better protection of household contacts and other high-risk groups from developing active tuberculosis.
Emphasising that tuberculosis elimination requires a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach, he urged all departments, district administrations, civil society organisations and volunteers to actively contribute towards the goal of making Jammu & Kashmir TB-Mukht in the days to come.
