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Geneva/New Delhi, 21 November. Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda addressed a high-level side event on lung health screening during the ongoing 79th World Health Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland. Organized by ‘Stop TB Partnership’, the event was co-hosted by India, Japan, Philippines and Zambia. JP Nadda said, “Timely screening, early detection of disease and equitable access to care are the basics of a strong and people-centric health system.”

He stressed that strengthening lung health screening is not just a technical issue, but about saving lives, reducing suffering, reducing economic burden and empowering health systems. The Union Minister mentioned in detail the achievements of India’s ‘TB Free India’ campaign. He said that under the National TB Eradication Programme, India has launched the world’s largest screening and early diagnosis programme. Vulnerable populations are being reached through door-to-door screening, mobile teams, community campaigns and targeted programs in high-risk areas.

“Molecular testing platforms, digital chest X-rays, AI-based interpretation tools, handheld screening devices and decentralized testing systems are being used extensively to reduce testing delays in remote and underserved areas,” Nadda said. He underlined that innovation should reach the last person. Referring to the ‘TB Mukt Bharat App’, he said it includes an AI-enabled multilingual chatbot called ‘Khushi’, which gives real-time guidance about symptoms, facilities and nearest testing centres. This app can be easily used even on ordinary smartphones.

The Minister said that through the TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan, citizens, institutions, corporates and communities have come together to help TB patients and their families. He also appreciated the role of Ayushman Bharat health and wellness centers and frontline health workers. Nadda appealed for global cooperation and gave many important suggestions. These include mainstreaming lung health into universal health coverage, increasing access to affordable diagnostics and digital tools, strengthening primary health care, promoting innovation and technology transfer, and ensuring sustainable financing.

He said the fight against TB can lay the foundation for a stronger health system, better testing, clean environment, good nutrition and an egalitarian society. The Government of India is fully prepared to work closely with governments, innovators, partners and communities across the world to advance practical and large-scale implementable solutions to lung health screening.