JIPMER Conclave on Genomic TB Diagnostics Concludes; Lt. Governor Calls for Community-Centred Elimination Strategy

The three-day National Conclave and Policy Dialogue on Universal Drug Susceptibility Testing (UDST) using Targeted Next-Generation Sequencing (tNGS) for Tuberculosis, hosted by JIPMER, concluded today with the valedictory ceremony at the APJ Abdul Kalam Auditorium. Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry, Shri K. Kailashnathan, graced the valedictory session alongside Dr. Vir Singh Negi, Director, JIPMER, and senior public health officials.

Delivering the valedictory address, Shri Kailashnathan commended the organizing institutions and reiterated the national vision for a TB Mukt Bharat. He emphasized shifting from a target-driven model to a holistic elimination approach, calling for deeper research into changing TB patterns among youth, young married women, and students. Highlighting Puducherry’s progress—including an 88% treatment success rate in 2025 and 36 designated TB-free villages—he stressed extending active case-finding, nutritional support, and anti-stigma measures beyond hospital settings into local communities.

The final day focused on policy, financing, and implementation pathways for genomic testing within the National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP). Panel discussions outlined potential roadmaps for pilot tNGS testing in Puducherry and surrounding regions. The national dialogue successfully brought together policymakers, genomic scientists, and clinical experts to advance precision TB care in alignment with Viksit Bharat @2047.

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