Jammu, Oct 22: The Jammu and Kashmir government has set a 10-day deadline for underperforming districts to improve tuberculosis (TB) screening and diagnosis, while directing officials to strengthen patient care and community participation under the TB elimination campaign.

Commissioner Secretary, Health and Medical Education, Saugat Biswas, issued the directions while chairing a review meeting to assess the programme’s progress across the Union Territory. Mission Director, National Health Mission (NHM), J&K, Athar Aamir Ul Shafi Khan, presented a detailed progress report.
The meeting was attended by Deputy Commissioners, Government Medical College principals, Directors of Health Services, Chief Medical Officers, State Tuberculosis Officers and District Tuberculosis Officers, among other officials.
Expressing concern over poor performance in some districts, Biswas directed officials to bridge gaps through coordinated action, daily monitoring and mandatory reporting to the respective Deputy Commissioners.
He called for optimal utilisation of X-ray machines, asking officials to increase daily testing beyond the prescribed benchmarks of 50 tests for mobile machines and 20 for fixed machines, wherever feasible.
State Tuberculosis Officers were directed to coordinate with concerned agencies to address shortages of chips and cartridges affecting screening operations and ensure uninterrupted functioning of diagnostic equipment.
The Commissioner Secretary also ordered that the identification and screening of family members of TB patients be completed within 10 days to facilitate early diagnosis and treatment.
Emphasising patient welfare, he directed officials to expedite financial assistance under the Nikshay Poshan Yojana and streamline digital authentication to ensure timely payments.
He further called for greater involvement of youth-led JOSH teams, community and religious leaders, NCC volunteers and NGOs to promote screening, encourage early diagnosis and reduce stigma associated with TB.
Biswas stressed that interdepartmental coordination, accountability and time-bound corrective measures were essential to accelerating TB elimination in Jammu and Kashmir in line with the national goal.
Highlight the key district gapsTighten the official meeting details