Jammu, October 13,2026- All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Jammu inaugurated a dedicated DOTS (Directly Observed Treatment, Short-course) Centre on its campus, expanding the institute’s capacity to diagnose, treat and monitor tuberculosis patients and supporting the national push toward a TB-Mukt Bharat.
The centre was inaugurated in the presence of senior faculty, clinicians, administrative officers and representatives of the district health administration. It will serve patients from Jammu and nearby districts, as well as those referred from peripheral health facilities who need specialised evaluation.
A single window for TB care
The DOTS Centre is designed as a one-stop facility where patients can be registered, assessed, started on treatment and followed up without moving between departments. Services include sputum collection and referral for molecular testing, treatment initiation under the National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP), adherence counselling, and regular follow-up visits to confirm that patients complete their full course of medication.
Officials said the centre will also coordinate with the departments of Pulmonary Medicine, Microbiology, Radiodiagnosis and Community Medicine so that complicated cases, including drug-resistant TB and TB with comorbidities such as diabetes or HIV, receive timely specialist attention.
Speaking at the inauguration, the institute’s leadership said that tuberculosis remains one of the most pressing public health challenges in the country, and that early detection and uninterrupted treatment are the surest ways to break the chain of transmission. They noted that incomplete or irregular treatment not only endangers the patient but also contributes to drug-resistant strains, which are far harder and costlier to treat.
Aligned with national goals
The initiative fits within the TB-Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan, under which India has set the ambitious target of eliminating tuberculosis well ahead of the global 2030 deadline under the Sustainable Development Goals. The campaign relies on active case finding, universal drug-susceptibility testing, patient support and community participation.
Health officials highlighted that the centre will help patients access benefits under the Ni-kshay Poshan Yojana, which provides monthly financial assistance to notified TB patients for nutritional support throughout treatment. Patients will also be linked with Ni-kshay Mitras, volunteers and organisations who adopt patients to provide additional nutritional and emotional support.
Focus on counselling and stigma
Beyond medicines and diagnostics, the centre will place strong emphasis on counselling. Trained staff will educate patients and families about cough hygiene, ventilation, nutrition, and the importance of completing treatment even after symptoms improve. Doctors stressed that stigma continues to deter many people from seeking care, and said the centre aims to offer a respectful, confidential environment.
“Early diagnosis and complete treatment save lives and protect communities,” a senior faculty member said, adding that awareness among families is as important as clinical care.
Training and research
As a tertiary care and teaching institution, AIIMS Jammu also plans to use the facility for training medical students, nursing staff and health workers in the latest TB management protocols. Faculty indicated that the centre could support operational research on treatment outcomes and regional disease patterns, generating data useful for district and state programmes.
Community outreach
The institute intends to run periodic awareness drives, screening camps and outreach sessions in surrounding communities, targeting high-risk groups such as people with diabetes, undernourished individuals, the elderly, and those living in crowded settings. Residents with a cough lasting more than two weeks, fever, unexplained weight loss or night sweats were urged to get tested at the nearest health facility.
The DOTS Centre is now open to patients during regular outpatient hours, and diagnosis and treatment are provided free of cost under the national programme.
