Patna: Bihar’s chief secretary, Pratyaya Amrit, has directed all government departments and district administrations to work in “mission mode” to accelerate tuberculosis (TB) screening, after a review found that only a fraction of the state’s target population has been covered under the national TB-Free India Campaign.
Chairing a high-level review meeting, Amrit said Bihar aims to complete 1 crore (10 million) TB screenings by 14 August 2026, stressing that coordinated action across departments would be critical to achieving the target.
Officials said the state’s target population for screening stands at 2.76 crore (27.6 million). So far, around 0.39 crore (3.9 million) people—approximately 14% of the target—have been screened, with most districts recording coverage below 20%.
Block-level monitoring and micro-planning
To improve implementation, the chief secretary directed district magistrates to appoint a senior deputy collector or nodal officer in every block to monitor daily and weekly screening targets. Bihar’s cumulative weekly target has been fixed at 9.42 lakh screenings.
District administrations have also been asked to prepare detailed micro-plans for organising special screening camps in schools, hostels, Mahadalit hamlets and prisons, making use of all 674 Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK) mobile health teams operating in the state. Officials were instructed to ensure that screening data is uploaded daily to the Nikshay portal, the government’s digital TB surveillance platform.
Departments assigned specific responsibilities
The review assigned sector-specific responsibilities to multiple departments. The education department has been asked to ensure complete screening coverage in secondary and higher secondary schools, including Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas, through mobile health teams.
The Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Welfare Department will mobilise residents of Mahadalit settlements through Vikas Mitras and intensify screening in hostels.
The Rural Development Department has been directed to spread awareness through Jivika self-help groups and encourage participation in camps at nearby Ayushman Arogya Mandirs.
Meanwhile, the Panchayati Raj Department has been instructed to involve elected representatives in awareness campaigns and encourage them to support patients by becoming Nikshay Mitras.
Greater focus on diagnosis and patient care
The state government has also laid down minimum daily screening targets, requiring each Ayushman Arogya Mandir to conduct at least 10 screenings a day, while each mobile health team must screen 100 people daily.
Officials have been instructed to prioritise TruNAAT and CBNAAT molecular diagnostic tests for confirming TB cases, with sputum microscopy to be used primarily for follow-up.
To improve early detection among vulnerable groups, districts must also increase X-ray testing through fixed and portable machines. Health facilities have additionally been directed to provide comprehensive assessments—including body mass index, haemoglobin, blood pressure and blood sugar—for all identified TB patients and upload the information to the Nikshay portal.
Nutritional support and accountability
The chief secretary instructed district administrations to ensure that 100% of registered TB patients receive nutritional food baskets under the Nikshay Mitra initiative. Officials were asked to coordinate with public sector companies, including IOCL, NTPC, POWERGRID and BSPTCL, as well as the Indian Red Cross Society, to support the programme.
Warning against complacency, Amrit said any laxity in implementing the campaign would not be tolerated. District magistrates have been directed to conduct weekly reviews to monitor progress and ensure Bihar meets its screening target by 14 August 2026 as part of its effort to become TB-free.
