India’s campaign to eradicate tuberculosis is entering a more targeted and technology-driven phase, with the Centre identifying 38 wards across 11 districts of Delhi that account for more than 80 per cent of the capital’s high-risk TB burden. The strategy marks a significant shift from broad-based intervention towards precision public health, combining Artificial Intelligence, grassroots participation and administrative accountability to accelerate progress under the TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan.
The new approach emerged during a high-level review chaired by Union Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda, who stressed that eliminating tuberculosis would require far more than government programmes alone. Describing Jan Bhagidari as the defining pillar of the next phase of the mission, he asserted that the gap between effort and outcome can only be bridged when communities, elected representatives, healthcare institutions and frontline workers operate as partners rather than in isolation.
The Union Minister reiterated Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision that implementation must be driven by cooperation instead of fragmented institutional functioning. He directed that every ward should have a designated senior government officer responsible for monitoring progress, ensuring accountability and coordinating local implementation.
Precision healthcare replaces one-size-fits-all intervention
The review showcased how technology is reshaping India’s tuberculosis elimination strategy. Officials informed the meeting that AI-driven vulnerability mapping, based on more than 30 region-specific indicators, has identified nearly 1.58 lakh high-risk villages and urban wards nationwide. In Delhi, the analysis has enabled health authorities to narrow their operational focus to just 38 wards, allowing resources to be concentrated where disease prevalence remains the highest.
The strategy is expected to improve surveillance, strengthen early diagnosis and enable faster interventions instead of relying on uniform city-wide campaigns.
To reinforce this technology-led approach, Nadda announced support for expanding the deployment of Artificial Intelligence-enabled handheld X-ray machines, designed to facilitate rapid screening and improve early case detection, particularly among vulnerable populations.
Delhi’s campaign gathers momentum
The review also reflected the scale of the campaign already underway in the national capital.
According to the Union Health Ministry, Delhi has screened 28.83 lakh people, conducted 21.67 lakh chest X-rays and carried out 3.65 lakh molecular NAAT tests, leading to the notification of 1.75 lakh tuberculosis patients under the ongoing campaign.
Presenting the programme review, Additional Secretary and Mission Director of the National Health Mission, Aradhana Patnaik, credited ASHAs, Community Health Officers, laboratory personnel and field teams for executing the campaign at the grassroots level. She recommended universal upfront NAAT testing for all presumptive and drug-resistant TB cases alongside X-ray screening, comprehensive assessment of every TB patient for differentiated care and a further expansion of TB preventive treatment among household contacts and other vulnerable groups.
She also advocated scaling up the network of Ni-kshay Mitras and MY Bharat volunteers, noting that community support often plays a decisive role in ensuring treatment adherence and improving patient outcomes.
Community ownership to drive the final mile
A recurring theme throughout the review was the need to transform tuberculosis elimination into a genuine people’s movement.
Nadda directed health authorities to regularly brief Members of Parliament, Members of Legislative Assemblies and Municipal Councillors about the TB burden within their constituencies, the challenges being encountered and the interventions underway. He observed that elected representatives serve as a critical bridge between government institutions and citizens and can significantly strengthen awareness, early detection and treatment compliance at the local level.
The Minister also called for deeper collaboration with Resident Welfare Associations, ward committees, district administrations and healthcare institutions, while directing that all public communication should be delivered in simple and accessible language to maximise public engagement.
To maintain implementation momentum, he instructed the Union Health Ministry, Delhi Government and major healthcare institutions to hold regular joint review meetings, enabling continuous monitoring, faster resolution of operational challenges and the sharing of best practices.
As India intensifies its pursuit of a TB-Mukt Bharat, the Centre’s latest strategy signals a decisive evolution in public health governance. By integrating Artificial Intelligence, data-driven targeting, institutional accountability and community participation into a unified framework, the government is seeking to transform tuberculosis elimination from a large-scale administrative programme into a focused, locally driven national mission.
