Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare (MoS, HFW) delivered a keynote address at the Innovative TB Health Technologies Workshop organized by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) issued a press release on the address on 15th June, 2023.
The two-day workshop aims to promote innovative health technologies for tuberculosis (TB) and facilitate their adoption in the End TB program. It also serves as a platform to showcase TB innovation health technologies exhibited at the Stop TB Summit in Varanasi. The minister emphasized the crucial role of innovation in the success of the mission and encouraged innovators to develop high-quality products that can be implemented on a large scale. He also commended the ICMR for its relentless efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic and for achieving the remarkable feat of developing an indigenous vaccine in less than a year.
Additionally, the Union Health Secretary, emphasized that innovations are essential for achieving the goal of TB elimination. He highlighted the significance of diagnosis, treatment, and community involvement in effectively eradicating the disease. He emphasized the need for a comprehensive approach involving all sectors of the government and society. The Union Health Secretary also announced that TB patients can now receive treatment using their Ayushman Bharat cards, further expanding access to care.
Addressing the innovators, the Health Secretary urged them to focus not only on pilot products but also on innovations that can be implemented programmatically. He expressed hope that the discussions and deliberations during the workshop would lead to the development of innovative products that can be deployed at scale throughout India.
Furthermore, the Secretary of the Department of Health Research (DHR) and Director General of ICMR, highlighted the importance of technological solutions in the healthcare sector. He acknowledged the presence of numerous innovators in India but noted that many innovations fail to reach the necessary scale due to regulatory challenges and delayed approvals. The workshop aims to address these challenges and provide innovators with valuable information on technological requirements not only for TB but also for future pandemic preparedness.
The Innovative TB Health Technologies Workshop serves as a platform for collaboration and knowledge exchange, facilitating the development and implementation of cutting-edge solutions to combat TB in India. It is a significant step toward achieving the ambitious goal of eliminating TB and improving public health in the country.
