Chandigarh, March 25 The Haryana government has launched a series of state-specific interventions, including corporate funding, the use of artificial intelligence in tuberculosis (TB) testing, and last-mile healthcare delivery, to detect and treat the disease before symptoms appear, an official statement said on Wednesday.
Announcing the initiative during World TB Week, Additional Chief Secretary, Health and Family Welfare, Sumita Misra, unveiled a partnership with Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited Foundation (BPCL) worth Rs 20.5 crore.
During the inauguration event, handheld X-ray devices with artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities were also deployed in 2,111 identified high-risk villages and urban wards.
As a major boost to diagnostic infrastructure, BPCL, under its corporate social responsibility program, will provide 150 Truenat Quattro molecular diagnostic machines, valued at approximately Rs 20.5 crore, the statement said.
The machines, expected to be delivered within weeks, are designed to significantly enhance rapid testing capacity at the grassroots level, reducing delays between sample collection and confirmed diagnosis, a persistent bottleneck in TB control efforts.
This marks a strategic shift from passive detection. The state has initiated active screening using AI-powered handheld X-ray devices capable of identifying lung abnormalities, even in asymptomatic individuals.
The intervention targets 2,111 high-risk zones, signaling a move towards pre-emptive identification of infection rather than relying on symptomatic reporting at health facilities, it said.
To ensure outreach in remote and underserved areas, 65 Mobile Medical Units and dedicated Ni-Kshay Vahans have been deployed to deliver on-site diagnostic services, effectively bringing healthcare infrastructure to the doorstep of vulnerable populations.
This year, Haryana will conduct 15 lakh sputum tests to diagnose TB.
"Our goal is a TB-free Haryana, where no patient remains undetected due to geography or stigma," Misra said, underlining the administration's focus on early detection, technological integration, and inclusive healthcare delivery.