On March 24th, 2023, Friday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the ‘One World TB Summit’  in Varanasi on the occasion of World Tuberculosis Day at the Rudraksha Convention Centre. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath was also present at the summit. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) organised this summit and stopped the TB partnership. During the summit, PM Modi launched several initiatives including the TB-Mukt Panchayat Initiative, a pan-India rollout of shorter preventive treatment and family-centric care model, and the release of India’s Annual TB Report 2023. Overall the initiative that aimed India committed to ending tuberculosis by the end of 2025 was launched.

At the time of the summit, PM Modi stated, “It is a matter of happiness that this summit is happening in Kashi. India also took the initiative about the vision of ‘One Earth, One Health’ to take it forward and now through this summit India is fulfilling another resolution of Global Good.” “India has worked together on many fronts in the fight against Tuberculosis, also India has done a great job in fighting TB through people’s participation, enhancing nutrition, full use of technology, and treatment through innovation,” he further added.

The Prime Minister emphasised that India’s new approach and vision should be known by the whole world. The various development initiatives launched in Varanasi by PM Modi included the MLD sewage treatment plant, 19 drinking water schemes, development initiatives in Varanasi, an LPG bottling plant at Isarwar place, and Varanasi Smart City Mission. The participation of people through initiatives like ‘Ni-kshay Mitra’ has played an important role in fighting Tuberculosis, over the last nine years. Under this program, PM Modi has mentioned that financial help to the patients suffering from Tuberculosis has reached Rs 1,000 crore.

 Also, the government announced a direct benefit transfer scheme for TB patients in the year 2018, as a result, Rs 2,000 crore have been transferred into their bank accounts and around 75 lakh patients have benefited from this. The PM will also award the selected districts as well as the states for their progress in fighting TB. Almost 1.5 lakh patients have received free treatment under the ‘Ayushman Bharat Scheme’ and more than 70 Aushadhi Kendras have been providing affordable medicines to the patients till now.