New Delhi: In observance of World Tuberculosis (TB) Day, Safdarjung Hospital organized a Continuing Medical Education (CME) session on the latest updates to the National Tuberculosis Elimination Program (NTEP). The event, held on the hospital premises, brought together medical experts, healthcare workers, researchers, and students to discuss advancements, challenges, and strategies in the fight against TB.

The CME was inaugurated by senior officials from the hospital and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. The session focused on India’s intensified efforts to eliminate TB by 2025 — five years ahead of the global Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target.

In her address, Dr. N.V. Kamat, Medical Superintendent of Safdarjung Hospital, stressed the importance of awareness, early detection, and timely treatment. “Safdarjung Hospital has always been at the forefront of public health initiatives. World TB Day reminds us to recommit ourselves to the elimination of this disease through innovation, patient-centered care, and community participation,” she said.

The sessions included presentations on updates to NTEP guidelines, advances in molecular diagnostics, management of drug-resistant TB, and the growing role of digital technologies and artificial intelligence in TB surveillance and care delivery.

Experts from the Revised National Tuberculosis Control Program (RNTCP) highlighted progress in achieving early diagnosis and improved treatment adherence through Nikshay, the government’s digital TB monitoring platform. They also discussed recent data trends and the need for sustained community outreach to overcome stigma and improve access to healthcare services.

The event also featured case discussions and knowledge-sharing sessions, where resident doctors and medical students interacted with TB specialists and public health experts.

World Tuberculosis Day is observed every year on March 24 to raise awareness about TB, a preventable and curable disease that continues to be one of the leading infectious killers worldwide. India bears the highest burden of TB globally, and government initiatives like NTEP are pivotal in addressing this public health challenge.

The CME concluded with a call for stronger multi-sectoral collaboration, continuous training of healthcare workers, and sustained commitment at every level to achieve a TB-free India by 2025.