JP Nadda chairs TB Mukt Bharat review and healthcare reforms meeting in Haryana
New Delhi: Union Health Minister Shri J.P. Nadda chaired a high-level TB Mukt Bharat review meeting with the Haryana government, focusing on healthcare reforms, strict drug regulation, and technology-driven patient care.
During the meeting, healthcare delivery and national health programme implementation were reviewed in detail. At the same time, senior officials discussed ways to strengthen public health systems and improve patient-centric services.
Importantly, Shri Nadda stressed that continuous monitoring across the pharmaceutical supply chain was essential to ensure medicine quality and safety. Therefore, he urged authorities to institutionalise best regulatory practices and maintain sustained compliance.
Referring to the Free Drugs and Free Diagnostics schemes, the Union Health Minister highlighted the need for strong supply chains. Moreover, he said real-time monitoring was critical to prevent shortages at public health facilities.
Diagnostics, meanwhile, received special emphasis during the review. According to Shri Nadda, timely and quality testing formed the backbone of effective healthcare delivery. Consequently, he called for professional hospital management and stricter oversight of blood banks and safety standards.
In addition, the Union Health Minister directed officials to ensure uninterrupted supplies of laboratory reagents and consumables. As a result, public hospitals would be able to offer a wider range of diagnostic tests consistently.
Notably, Shri Nadda asked the State to engage with HLL Lifecare Ltd to establish AMRIT Retail Pharmacy Stores in every district hospital. These pharmacies will offer branded medicines at discounts of up to 50%.
Through this initiative, the government aims to reduce out-of-pocket expenditure. At the same time, access to affordable medicines is expected to improve for patients across the State.
Technology-led healthcare solutions were also prioritised. In this context, Shri Nadda said telemedicine could bridge access gaps, especially in remote and underserved areas. He therefore praised Haryana for its effective adoption of telemedicine services.
TB Mukt Bharat review underscores district-level mission mode
Turning to the TB Mukt Bharat review, Shri Nadda reaffirmed the Centre’s resolve to eliminate tuberculosis as a public health challenge. Accordingly, he called for targeted action at the district level with close monitoring.
Specifically, the Union Health Minister stressed intensified screening, early diagnosis, treatment adherence, and nutritional support. Notably, he said AI-enabled handheld X-ray units had strengthened community-level TB screening.
Meanwhile, NAAT machines were now available at the block level to enable early detection. As a result, drug-resistant TB cases could also be identified sooner.
Community participation was highlighted as another critical pillar. In this regard, Shri Nadda noted that over 350 MY Bharat volunteers from Haryana had joined the Ni-kshay Mitra initiative. Therefore, he urged officials to link them effectively with TB patients for psychosocial support.
Mission-mode implementation, he said, was essential for success. Consequently, district and block-level reviews must remain outcome-focused and regular.
To strengthen governance, Shri Nadda also called for sensitisation workshops for MLAs. Similarly, regular engagement with Zilla Parishads and Chief Medical Officers was needed to improve accountability.
Jan Bhagidari, or people’s participation, was described as vital for lasting health outcomes. Moreover, stronger community ownership would help build public trust in health programmes.
The Health Minister of Haryana assured full cooperation with the Centre. Accordingly, she said the State would continue working closely with the Union Health Ministry.
Reiterating Centre–State synergy, Shri Nadda said Haryana would receive continued support through NHM interventions, PPP models, and infrastructure funding. Additionally, technical training and handholding would be provided.
Finally, he said similar consultative reviews with other States would continue. Shri Nadda had met the Health Ministers of Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh last week.
The meeting concluded with a collective commitment to strengthen drug regulation, expand diagnostics, professionalise hospital administration, and accelerate TB elimination.
