New Delhi, Dec 12, 2024: Contributing to India’s 100-day TB elimination campaign, the second consortium of corporate hospitals convened today in Kaushambi, Ghaziabad, with a shared vision to make Uttar Pradesh tuberculosis-free. The event was organized under the aegis of the Association of Healthcare Providers (AHPI) which is the largest representative of private healthcare providers in India, with technical support from the ‘Corporate TB Pledge’ initiative by The Union, as part of the USAID-supported iDEFEAT TB project. AHPI was represented by Dr Girdhar Gyani, DG, AHPI, Dr Atul Kapoor, President AHPI UP State Chapter, Dr Sunil K Khetarpal, Director, AHPI and Mr Shikhar Gupta, Dy Director, AHPI. This consortium represents a crucial step in tuberculosis elimination efforts in Uttar Pradesh through a unified private-sector-led approach.
Healthcare leaders from both the public and private sectors participated in the meeting, including Dr. Atul Mohan Kochar, CEO, NABH, Dr. Sanjay Kumar Mattoo, Joint Commissioner and Additional Deputy Director General for TB in the Central TB Division, Government of India, and Mr. Indra Vikram Singh, IAS, District Magistrate of Ghaziabad, also addressed the gathering. Dr. Upasana Arora, Director of Yashoda Super Speciality Hospitals, Kaushambi, was named chair of the UP consortium, which aims to drive collaboration and action among private hospitals to combat TB effectively.
Mr. Indra Vikram Singh, IAS, DM, Ghaziabad : The state of UP, which has almost one-fourth of the TB patients in India, needs a special focus and we still have one year to make a difference. This his consortium is a great initiative, and we extend our wholehearted support for the same.
Dr. Upasana Arora, Director-Yashoda Super Specialty Hospitals, Kaushambi, said, “It’s great to be on the chair for this state consortium for TB elimination, in line with the Government’s aim to make India totally TB-free. We have established SOPs for establishing STEP centers and planning to set up a drug-resistant TB center as well.”
Dr. Sanjay Kumar Mattoo from Central TB Division expressed: “Both public and private sectors must come together to combat this disease which continues to affect a significant population in India and the world. I extend full support to the AHPI-led TB elimination through private hospitals in the nation’s fight against the disease. This will set a new benchmark in the overall efforts to make India TB free.
Dr. Girdhar Gyani, Director General of AHPI, emphasized the need for uniformity among hospitals in TB care and stressed the importance of community involvement. He said, “This consortium is just the beginning. By identifying high-risk groups and strengthening treatment protocols, we can make significant strides toward eliminating TB. Collaboration at the district level will be key to success.”
Dr Atul Kapoor, President AHPI UP State stated that we will support the cause and UP being the largest state, we will form more such consortiums region wise and city wise.
Dr. Atul M. Kochhar lauded the initiative, pointing out that India is the second-largest contributor to multi-drug-resistant TB. He stated, “This is a laudable effort by AHPI. Despite significant government efforts, TB continues to remain a big challenge for us. This consortium can be a game-changer for managing both communicable and non-communicable diseases. He congratulated Dr. Upasana and the team for this commendable step and extended full support in implementation of STEPS centers and STCI.
Dr Rakesh P S, Deputy Director Programme, presented on Standards of TB Care in India (STCI) and STEPS (System for TB Elimination by Private Sector)
Ms Nidhi Bansal, County Director, The Union, expressed her deep appreciation and support for the Consortium of Corporate Hospitals in UP. She commended their efforts in advancing the mission for a TB-free state and emphasized the need for similar initiatives in other parts of the country.
Mr Mohd Shadab, Head Partnerships, The Union presented on the 100 days campaign for TB Elimination by the Govt. of India and emphasized on the role of Corporate Hospitals in supporting the campaign through Early case finding efforts.
Dr. Sunil K. Khetarpal, Director of AHPI, emphasized the critical role of private healthcare providers in eradicating TB. He noted that India accounts for 26% of new global TB cases and one-third of TB-related deaths. He highlighted the importance of addressing gaps in TB care through private-sector systems and ensuring adherence to the Standards of TB Care in India, as more than 50% of TB cases are diagnosed by private hospitals.
The consortium aims to build a sustainable platform for private hospitals to collaborate with public health authorities, ensuring high-quality TB care. It focuses on standardizing diagnosis and treatment, improving adherence to the Standards of TB Care in India, and enhancing measures such as contact tracing, preventive treatments, airborne infection control, and patient support systems. This initiative underscores the critical role of private healthcare providers in advancing India’s fight against TB, aligning with the nation’s goal of eliminating the disease by 2025.
The first consortium of this unified campaign was held in Faridabad, Haryana on December 2, and saw the participation of 50 hospitals. The UP consortium builds on this success, reaffirming the private sector’s commitment to a TB-free India. The event highlighted the importance of joint efforts between private and public sectors to achieve sustainable progress in the fight against TB, ensuring that no patient is left behind.
