The National Conclave & Policy Dialogue on Tuberculosis concluded at AIIMS Bhubaneswar, bringing together policymakers, scientists, clinicians, and public health leaders to strengthen TB diagnosis, surveillance, and research under India’s vision of a TB‑Mukt Bharat.
Hon’ble Speaker of the Odisha Legislative Assembly Smt. Surama Padhy, gracing the valedictory ceremony as Chief Guest, called for greater collaboration between AIIMS Bhubaneswar and the Odisha Government to translate scientific evidence into effective public health action. She emphasised that TB elimination is a national movement requiring collective responsibility and community participation.
Highlighting the challenge of drug‑resistant tuberculosis, she advocated for Universal Drug Susceptibility Testing (UDST) and advanced genotypic testing to improve patient outcomes and inform policy decisions.
Odisha Health Minister Dr Mukesh Mahaling reiterated the State’s commitment to collaborate with AIIMS Bhubaneswar on pilot projects for advanced diagnostics, ensuring innovations reach rural and tribal communities.
Dr Ashutosh Biswas, Executive Director & CEO of AIIMS Bhubaneswar, announced plans to initiate advanced TB testing in two Odisha districts on a pilot basis to generate evidence for wider implementation.
The conclave, attended by senior officials from the National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP), researchers, and development partners, underscored the need for a robust collaborative framework involving AIIMS Bhubaneswar, the Odisha Government, and national health agencies to strengthen TB surveillance and operational research.
