Union Health Minister launches JOSH teams to accelerate TB elimination drive

The Union Health Ministry is engaging with youth volunteers to find people with tuberculosis (TB) who may be missing from the health system. JOSH teams of the National Cadet Corps (NCC) and MY Bharat volunteers are deploying for household-level outreach in 55 districts across 11 States and Union Territories.

Health Minister J.P. Nadda launched the JOSH (Joint Squad for Health) teams under the TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan on Thursday. The teams will work at block and ward levels to identify people with symptoms, encourage testing, and support patients so they can complete treatment.

Each team will comprise five NCC cadets and five MY Bharat volunteers and will function under a designated Class-I officer. The initiative is being implemented jointly by the Ministries of Health and Family Welfare, Youth Affairs and Sports and Defence.

The government’s emphasis is on active case finding, with the Health Minister stating that people could be living with TB without recognising their symptoms and therefore remain outside the formal healthcare system. “Awareness is important, screening is important, but our responsibility does not end there,” he said, stressing the need to ensure diagnosis and completion of treatment.

The Centre also felicitated 67,933 Panchayats across 697 districts that were declared TB Mukt in 2026. The JOSH initiative is expected to be expanded to other districts after orientation and mobilisation of volunteers.