Union Health Minister J P Nadda today asserted that funds would never pose any constraints on India's tuberculosis control programme and said there was a need of creating a system which would plug the gaps arising out of improper and ineffective monitoring.
Speaking at an event to mark the World Tuberculosis Day, he also stressed on the need of including people's representatives at various levels in fighting the scourge of tuberculosis.
"Let me assure you, funds has never been a problem and will never be a problem. It is the issue of filling of the gaps. It is the improvement of systems. Problems have not arisen due to lack of funds, it has come because either we did not monitor or we could not make it effective. We have to plug the gaps," the Health Minister said.
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He said that although the Centre is providing funds, there are many states, where it is no proper utilisation and therefore, the system is also a very important factor which has to be taken into consideration.
He also said various stakeholders, including people's representatives at various levels could play a "crucial" role in fighting the disease in the country.
"All stakeholders have their own constituencies of influences with their own significant impact factor. Their involvement will enrich policy-making and effective implementation of the TB control programme in the country," he said.
Nadda said that although there have been many challenges, the Ministry through the Revised National TB Control programme (RNTCP) has been able to achieve significant achievements in terms of treating people and saving precious lives.
"We have faced challenges, we have done pretty good and we have to do good. This is a continuous process. Challenge is in continuation and the answer should also be in continuation. New innovations continue to take place. We have to be consistently vigilant and fighting against these disease," he said.
Nadda also launched the website of the National TB Control Programme, released the RNTCP Annual Report 2015 along with the special issue on TB of the Global Policy Journal. He also launched the project on "Innovative-intensified TB cases finding and appropriate treatment at high burden ART Centres in India.
