Rohit Shishodia
Union health ministry has signed MoUs with Ayush, Defense and Railways ministries to eliminate tuberculosis by 2025. The signing of MoUs is part of inter-ministerial coordination to reach different populations affected with TB.

Under the MoU with Ayush ministry, 700 under graduate colleges, 200 colleges, 4000 hospitals, 27000 dispensaries and the treatment facilities of Ayush department will play pivotal roles in eliminating TB.

Under the MoU with Railways ministry, 125 hospitals associated with Railways and 586 polyclinics will play active role in TB elimination. Under MoU with Defense Ministry, facilities of TB treatment will be made easier and accessible to the dependents of Ex-defense personnel.

Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan has said that the purpose is to reach key populations served by various ministries such as workers, miners, migrants, tribal population, women and children.  

Dr Vardhan has expressed confidence that the integrated and multi-sectoral approach will galvanize support and commitment from key stakeholders and seek their contribution towards India’s aim of being TB Free by 2025.

It is understood that TB can be prevented and cured but the deadly infectious disease is a major hurdle to India’s human and economic development. It has been predicted that in the near future, India will have the world’s largest working population and a disease like TB, which mostly affects adults in their most productive years, poses a great risk to the nation’s economic growth potential.