Chief Secretary reviews progress under TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan, stresses early detection and integrated care
SRINAGAR: Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo today chaired a high-level meeting to review the progress of the TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan and evaluate measures undertaken by the Health and Medical Education (H&ME) Department to achieve a Tuberculosis-free Jammu and Kashmir.
The meeting was attended by Secretary H&ME, Dr. Syed Abid Rashid Shah; Mission Director NHM, Baseer-Ul-Haq Chaudhary; Managing Director, JKMSCL; Principals of Government Medical Colleges; Directors of Health Services, Jammu and Kashmir; HoD Chest Medicine, GMC Srinagar; and senior faculty members from medical institutions across the UT. Deputy Commissioners joined the meeting through video conferencing.
While reviewing the current scenario, the Chief Secretary emphasized early detection, effective management, and full recovery of TB patients. He directed medical professionals to ensure end-to-end monitoring, adopt patients individually, and maintain regular contact to track treatment outcomes.
Highlighting the importance of contact tracing, Dulloo called for strengthening the ASHA network to conduct home visits, provide counselling, and ensure strict adherence to treatment protocols for better recovery rates.
The Chief Secretary also interacted with Deputy Commissioners to assess the availability and utilization of diagnostic equipment, screening mechanisms, and treatment facilities across districts. He instructed district administrations to ensure uninterrupted medicine supply, optimize resources, and enhance coordination between health teams and field functionaries.
He further directed an annual audit of TB-related deaths to identify root causes and implement corrective actions. The Health Department was asked to integrate patient data with the Sehat App and Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) for seamless record management and real-time monitoring.
Reviewing the action taken on previous directions, Dulloo urged strict and time-bound implementation to achieve tangible results under the Abhiyan.
Providing updates, Secretary H&ME, Dr. Syed Abid Rashid Shah, informed that J&K has made remarkable progress in TB surveillance, infrastructure, and diagnostics. The UT has achieved 100% case notification, reporting 11,499 cases, while 92% of the vulnerable population has been screened — ranking J&K among the top-performing regions in the country.
He added that all District TB Centres are fully equipped to meet screening and treatment targets, with efforts underway to promote patient adoption by doctors and enhance ASHA-led home visits for sustained engagement.
Mission Director NHM, Baseer-Ul-Haq Chaudhary, reported that 22.09 lakh individuals from vulnerable groups have been screened, with 5.59 lakh tested so far and a presumptive testing ratio of 4,636 per lakh population. Community support worth ₹3.5 crore has benefited 6,982 patients, while 7,891 are currently under treatment. Of these, 6,618 have been linked to Nikshay Mitras for nutritional and emotional assistance, with 6,728 Mitras registered across J&K.
Reaffirming the UT Administration’s commitment to eliminate TB, the Chief Secretary underscored the need for inter-departmental coordination, community participation, and efficient use of resources. He said that with sustained awareness campaigns, digital integration, and compassionate medical outreach, Jammu and Kashmir can emerge as a model TB-free region in the country.
