Puducherry leads in innovative TB outreach
Puducherry integrates TB screening into Family Adoption Program: Puducherry has become the first Indian state or Union Territory to integrate tuberculosis (TB) screening into the Family Adoption Program, a step that strengthens grassroots-level healthcare delivery.
Under this program, medical students adopt families and conduct regular health check-ups. Now, TB screening has been made a mandatory part of these visits. This is expected to improve early diagnosis and reduce the disease burden in the region.
What is the Family Adoption Program
This initiative, launched by the National Medical Commission (NMC), involves MBBS students adopting families during their training. Their role includes maintaining basic health records and promoting awareness.
The aim is to provide continuity of care while giving medical students hands-on public health experience. Puducherry’s integration of TB screening into this structure adds a focused disease-control component to the model.
Static GK fact: Puducherry is a Union Territory consisting of four districts: Puducherry, Karaikal, Mahe, and Yanam. It follows a unique administrative model with a Legislative Assembly.
Why TB screening is critical
India accounts for 27% of the global TB burden, according to WHO’s Global TB Report 2023. Regular screening and early intervention are essential to meet India’s TB Mukt Bharat goal of eliminating tuberculosis by 2025.
By integrating this with existing outreach programs, Puducherry sets an example in leveraging student workforce to boost community surveillance.
Static GK tip: The Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme (RNTCP) was launched in 1997 and renamed as the National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (NTEP) in 2020.
Role of medical students
Medical students will now be trained to identify early TB symptoms such as persistent cough, fever, weight loss, and fatigue. They will refer suspected patients for confirmatory tests under NTEP guidelines.
Their field visits are expected to create awareness on DOTS therapy, hygiene, and nutrition, which are central to TB recovery and prevention.
A replicable model for India
The move has gained attention for its scalable and cost-effective model. Other states are encouraged to adopt a similar approach to tackle TB and other communicable diseases using student-driven outreach.
This initiative also aligns with the Ayushman Bharat vision of strengthening preventive healthcare at the primary level.
Static Usthadian Current Affairs Table
Puducherry integrates TB screening into Family Adoption Program:
| Topic | Detail |
| First to integrate TB screening with Family Adoption | Puducherry |
| Program used for outreach | Family Adoption Program (FAP) |
| Launched by | National Medical Commission (NMC) |
| Role of students | Adopt families, monitor health, report symptoms |
| National TB target | Eliminate TB by 2025 |
| Global TB report reference | WHO Global TB Report 2023 |
| Name of India’s TB program | National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (NTEP) |
| Key screening symptoms | Cough, fever, fatigue, weight loss |
| Related national health scheme | Ayushman Bharat |
| Structure of Puducherry | 4 districts with legislative assembly |
