SRINAGAR: Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo on Tuesday reviewed the progress of the Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan across Jammu and Kashmir and directed health authorities to accelerate efforts for achieving the goal of a tuberculosis-free Union Territory.
Chairing a high-level review meeting attended by senior officials of the Health and Medical Education Department, National Health Mission, Government Medical Colleges and health services, Dulloo assessed district-wise performance under the campaign and called for focused interventions in areas requiring improvement.
While acknowledging encouraging results achieved by several districts, the Chief Secretary noted that there was scope for improvement in key indicators such as X-ray screening coverage, differentiated TB care, TB preventive treatment and nutritional support. He directed the Health and Medical Education Department to intensify efforts in districts lagging behind on these parameters.
Dulloo stressed the need to expand screening among vulnerable populations residing in identified high-risk villages and directed district administrations and health authorities to increase the number of Nikshay Shivirs and ensure saturation coverage of all notified high-risk villages within stipulated timelines. He also called for optimum utilisation of handheld X-ray units and enhanced outreach in remote and vulnerable areas.
Reviewing implementation of the Nikshay Poshan Yojana, he instructed officials to complete all pending beneficiary authentication and ensure timely disbursement of financial assistance to eligible patients. He directed that a special drive be launched to clear all pending cases so that no beneficiary is deprived of support.
The Chief Secretary also called for greater coverage of TB Preventive Treatment among household contacts and healthcare workers, strengthening of differentiated care protocols, wider distribution of Poshan Kits and enhanced community participation through Nikshay Mitras.
Emphasising the role of technology, Dulloo urged greater adoption of the recently launched TB Mukt Bharat App and Khushi Chatbot to improve treatment adherence, counselling and service delivery. He directed doctors and field functionaries to ensure registration and active use of the platforms by all notified TB patients.
Commissioner Secretary, Health and Medical Education, M. Raju presented a detailed overview of achievements, challenges and future action plans under the campaign. He informed the meeting that Jammu and Kashmir has emerged as one of the best-performing regions in the country under the ongoing 100-Day TB Mukt Bharat Campaign, securing second rank among States and Union Territories during Phase-II of the national campaign launched on March 24, 2026.
Managing Director, NHM, Akriti Sagar, informed the meeting that more than 2.45 lakh vulnerable individuals have been screened under the campaign and that 70 per cent of the enrolled vulnerable population has undergone X-ray screening, surpassing the national benchmark.
She further stated that Jammu and Kashmir has achieved 90 per cent utilisation of NAAT-based molecular diagnostic testing, enabling faster and more accurate diagnosis of tuberculosis cases.
The review revealed that 4,472 TB cases were notified during the first five months of 2026, accounting for nearly 40 per cent of the annual target. More than 2.52 lakh presumptive TB tests have also been conducted across the Union Territory during the current year.
Officials informed the meeting that over 2,100 TB patients have received Poshan Kits under community support initiatives, while the number of registered Nikshay Mitras has crossed 13,100, indicating increasing public participation in supporting TB patients.
The meeting was also informed that 1,504 TB patients have been assessed under Differentiated TB Care to ensure personalised treatment based on disease severity and associated vulnerabilities. Additionally, TB Preventive Treatment coverage has improved significantly, rising from seven per cent in Phase-I to 34 per cent in Phase-II.
Stressing that tuberculosis elimination requires a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach, Dulloo urged all departments, district administrations, civil society organisations and volunteers to actively contribute towards making Jammu and Kashmir TB-free.
