Bhubaneswar, August 8: The two-day national conclave & policy dialogue on Tuberculosis (TB) concluded at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Bhubaneswar here on Friday. A major highlight of the conclave was the declaration by the premier health institute to initiate advanced TB testing in two districts of Odisha on a pilot basis.

The conclave brought together policymakers, public health leaders, scientists, clinicians, researchers, officials of the National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP), development partners and healthcare professionals to deliberate on strengthening tuberculosis (TB) diagnosis, surveillance and research, and accelerating India’s vision of a TB-Mukt Bharat.

Odisha Assembly Speaker Surama Padhy graced and Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr Mukesh Mahaling graced the valedictory ceremony.

Addressing the gathering, Speaker Padhy underscored that the vision of a TB-Mukt Bharat, as envisioned by the Hon’ble Prime Minister, is not merely a public health initiative but a national movement driven by collective responsibility, scientific advancement and community participation.

She called for greater collaboration between AIIMS Bhubaneswar, the Government of Odisha and other stakeholders to translate scientific evidence into effective public health implementation.

She also advocated exploring pilot initiatives involving advanced genotypic testing to generate evidence that could inform future policy decisions.

Highlighting the continuing challenge posed by drug-resistant tuberculosis, she stressed the importance of early detection of drug resistance.

She noted that Universal Drug Susceptibility Testing (UDST) can significantly contribute to improving patient outcomes, reducing transmission and strengthening public health systems.

Health Minister Mahaling said that effective TB elimination requires coordinated efforts involving government agencies, medical institutions, researchers, laboratories, frontline health workers, development partners and communities.

The Minister expressed the State Government’s willingness to collaborate with AIIMS Bhubaneswar and other stakeholders in implementing evidence-based pilot projects to evaluate the feasibility, affordability and scalability of advanced diagnostic technologies within the public health system.

He emphasised that innovations in diagnostics must ultimately reach patients in rural, tribal and remote areas, where timely and accurate diagnosis remains crucial.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Ashutosh Biswas, Executive Director & CEO, AIIMS Bhubaneswar, highlighted its commitment to advancing TB research, molecular diagnostics, genomics and evidence-based policy development, particularly for Eastern India.

“Discussions are underway for AIIMS Bhubaneswar to initiate advanced TB testing in two districts of Odisha on a pilot basis, with the objective of generating evidence for wider implementation,” said Biswas.