New Delhi: Medanta, one of India's leading multi-super speciality hospitals, proudly announced the completion of 10 years of its 'Mission TB Free' initiative, a pioneering public health campaign that has revolutionised tuberculosis (TB) detection and treatment across Haryana and beyond. 

The event celebrating this milestone was graced by Smt Anupriya Patel, Hon’ble Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare and Chemicals and Fertilizers, Government of India, Dr Naresh Trehan, Chairman and Managing Director, Medanta (Global Health Limited), Mr Pankaj Sahni, Group CEO, Medanta (Global Health Limited), and Deputy Director General - Tuberculosis, Central TB Division, and Director General of Health Services, Haryana State.

Over the past decade, under ‘Mission TB Free’, Medanta has screened 10 lakh people for tuberculosis, carried out 80,000 chest X-rays and diagnosed over 10,000 cases of TB in Haryana and the bordering states of Delhi and Uttar Pradesh. The programme has substantially improved TB care by increasing case detection rate, especially in remote areas where access to medical facilities is limited.

Furthering its initiative, Medanta announced the launch of motorbike-compatible ultraportable X-ray machines and mobile vans, enhancing the programme’s ability to reach more underserved communities. Medanta, in partnership with public and private sector entities, also introduced the Arogya Karmee project to strengthen awareness, early diagnosis and treatment of TB, co-morbidities such as lung disease, and non-communicable diseases, among industrial workers. The project aims to establish linkages with service providers like National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (NTEP) and Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) to ensure access to free treatment for TB, diabetes, hypertension, and lung diseases, as well as preventive measures like diet control and tobacco cessation.

It will also focus on providing workplace support for improved treatment adherence. Medanta also plans to expand its highly successful Active Case Finding (ACF) model for strengthening door-to-door screening in Uttar Pradesh. The integration of advanced technologies, including AI-assisted diagnostics, and ultra-portable X-ray devices that can be carried on motorbikes, will be continued to make screening more accessible and reliable.

Dr Naresh Trehan, Chairman and Managing Director, Medanta, said, “As we mark a decade of 'Mission TB-Free’, we remain steadfast in our commitment to achieving India’s national TB objectives. Our mission reflects the country's ambitious target to eliminate TB. Our growth from a single mobile unit in 2014 to five units in 2023, supported by generous donations and strategic partnerships, exemplifies our commitment to scaling up these vital interventions to improve public health.

Our focus on enhancing access to improved diagnostic methodologies and advanced treatments by leveraging cutting-edge technologies underscores our dedication to a patient-first approach. I extend my gratitude to Team Medanta, the ASHA workers, paramedics, and partners for their steadfast work. Together, we continue to strive toward a TB-free India, with a vision to expand our successful model to other high-burden areas across the country.”

Expansion of Mission TB-Free Haryana from Rewari to Other Geographies:

‘Mission TB-Free’ was launched through a pilot project in Rewari, deploying a mobile medical unit equipped with digital X-ray technology. This significantly improved TB diagnosis, detecting 34.4% of smear-negative TB cases that might have otherwise been missed. This effort was part of a broader Call to Action for a TB-Free India, supported by national leaders and organisations like the Central TB Division, USAID, and The Union, which was later expanded state-wide.

To further this effort in other parts of Haryana, Medanta introduced AI-powered digital X-ray systems for rapid imaging and GeneXpert Edge (CBNAAT) for point-of-care molecular diagnosis, reducing diagnosis time to 2 hours, and improving case positivity from 4% to 55%. The programme employed community-based Active Case Finding (ACF) methods which tripled case detection rates compared to previous years. For instance, the first ACF round in Karnal screened 596 people—five times more than standard methods—resulting in detection of 108 active TB cases (18%). AI algorithms like Qure.AI improved the speed and accuracy of detection by assisting in X-ray image interpretation and optimising technician efficiency.

Additionally, Medanta used electronic data collection with tablets and e-questionnaires to expand diagnostic reach across Haryana's 22 districts, as well as in New Delhi and Uttar Pradesh’s Lucknow. This comprehensive approach significantly enhanced early detection and treatment initiation, with the Rewari strategy alone screening five times more people and detecting 18% active TB cases. These efforts to help deliver crucial healthcare services directly to underserved and rural communities with limited access to medical facilities were supported by Medanta’s partners, including RITES, Krishna Maruti, and RJ Corp, among others.

Dr Bornali Datta, Director of the TB Programme at Medanta, stated, “Our project ‘Mission TB Free’ has significantly advanced TB detection and treatment in the pilot state Haryana. We have seen substantial progress with increased detection rates in high-risk groups such as farmers, labourers, and smokers. However, challenges such as managing mobile unit logistics, occasional diagnostic shortages, and overcoming community stigma persist. To address these issues, we are enhancing community engagement through targeted awareness programmes and exploring innovative diagnostic methods such as tongue swab tests. Our goal remains development of a sustainable, replicable model for TB elimination that can be implemented in other high-burden regions across India.”

Case Study: Project Yamuna Pushtha

The National Capital Region of Delhi has one of the highest concentrations of TB cases globally, with a rate of 735 per 100,000 population. However, in the Yamuna Pushtha area, this rate is nearly 10 times higher. The Case Positivity Rate in Yamuna Pushtha stands at 5-6%, compared to 0.7% in Delhi and 199 per 100,000 in India.

Medanta has been running a bi-weekly screening since 2019 in Yamuna Pushtha, an area with a transient population of 7,000 to 10,000 people, predominantly migrant labourers with irregular incomes. Over the years, the screening findings revealed that a large percentage of the population was already at an advanced stage of tuberculosis. Medanta's CSR initiative focuses on early detection and diagnosis to reduce mortality and prevent the spread of TB, given that each infected individual can potentially transmit the disease to 10-12 others.

As India records a 16% decline in new TB cases and an 18% reduction in mortality since 2015—the year the country reported the highest number of TB cases in the world—addressing TB in high-prevalence areas like Yamuna Pushtha is crucial to achieving the 2025 TB elimination target.