Calls for 100% assessment of public health institutions, intensified TB screening
SRINAGAR, OCTOBER 30: In a strong push to enhance public healthcare delivery and accelerate TB elimination, Mission Director, National Health Mission (NHM) J&K, Athar Aamir Shafi-ul-Khan, Friday chaired back-to-back review meetings regarding National Quality Assurance Standards (NQAS) and Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan Friday at State Health Society Office Old Secretariat, Srinagar.
Reviewing the National Quality Assurance Standards, the Mission Director, as per an official statement, underscored that quality infrastructure and patient-centric care remain core pillars of public health in Jammu and Kashmir. Athar Aamir Shafi-ul-Khan directed all Chief Medical Officers to ensure thorough baseline assessments of every public health institution within their respective jurisdictions.
Chief Medical Officers were instructed to categorize facilities based on assessment findings, systematically bridge infrastructural gaps, and prioritize resource allocation to ensure that 100 percent of targeted healthcare facilities achieve NQAS quality certification by March 2027. Reiterating the administration’s commitment, he assured complete technical and administrative backing from the State Health Society to help every facility meet national benchmarks.
In a separate meeting, the Mission Director evaluated the ground-level progress of the Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan under the National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (NTEP). Deliberations centered on population screening coverage, Differentiated TB Care, and TB Preventive Treatment (TPT).
Emphasizing aggressive case-finding and optimal technology deployment, the Mission Director called for 100 percent utilization of available diagnostic machines including TruNAAT, CBNAAT, and both handheld and fixed X-ray machines across all districts.
Furthermore, review discussions highlighted grassroots momentum, noting that JOSH (Joint Squad for Health) Teams have been fully constituted across all 110 medical blocks in the Union Territory. Comprising designated Class-I officers, NCC cadets, and MY Bharat volunteers, these youth-led community squads are actively working alongside block medical officers to drive public awareness, eliminate social stigma, and support treatment adherence.
The meetings saw active participation both in person and virtually from the Directors of Health Services Jammu/ Kashmir, State Tuberculosis Officers, Chief Medical Officers (CMOs), District Tuberculosis Officers (DTOs), NHM Programme Managers, and other senior officers.
