Emphasising the plans of the Indian government to eliminate Tuberculosis from the country, Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan announced ‘TB-Mission 2020’.

Dr Vardhan was speaking at the WHO’s Global TB Symposium in Barcelona on Tuesday. He said that efforts are being made by the Indian government to provide free diagnosis and treatment as well as nutrition support and relevant financial enablers to patients from government and private hospitals.

Dr Vardhan emphasised that the solution to lung-related health challenges lie in bringing together all the stake holders, namely, the health care professionals, policy makers and the communities they serve.

The delegation comprising Indian and South African ministers also chaired a meeting of technical experts from BRICS countries. Tuberculosis control was also declared as the dominant agenda for the upcoming meeting of BRICS Health Ministers in December.