Union Health Minister launches youth squads to boost tuberculosis drive

Young volunteers are joining a new push to find hidden tuberculosis patients across India. Health Minister J.P. Nadda launched the Joint Squad for Health teams, known as JOSH, in New Delhi.

How It Works

These teams consist of National Cadet Corps cadets and MY Bharat volunteers. Each squad includes five NCC members and five MY Bharat volunteers, and a Class-I officer leads them. The teams go door-to-door in 55 districts across 11 States and Union Territories to spot symptoms and push for testing. Three central ministries—Health and Family Welfare, Youth Affairs and Sports, and Defence—are working together on this plan. Volunteers also help diagnosed patients finish their full medical treatment.

Panchayat Recognition

The government honored 67,933 Panchayats spread over 697 districts that were named TB Mukt during 2026. Officials plan to expand the JOSH project to more districts once the current volunteers finish their training.

Context

Tuberculosis remains a major public health challenge in many parts of the world, requiring active door-to-door screening to catch cases that routine clinic visits miss. Community-level outreach programs often help bridge the gap between rural populations and formal medical care.