CHENNAI: Health Minister Ma Subramanian inaugurated culture and drug sensitivity testing labs for TB in Coimbatore and Tiruchy districts and launched preventive therapy for contacts of tuberculosis cases during a TB Summit organised by the department on Friday.
Subramanian said preventive therapy will be provided to all contacts of TB patients in all districts. In 2022, a total of 91,592 TB cases were reported, out of which 50,592 were cured. The state will also hold a four-day conference inviting experts worldwide to share their knowledge on tackling diseases, he added. The minister also launched a new strategic plan TB 2.0.
‘No common counselling’
The state will not allow the Union Health Ministry to conduct common counselling for medical and dental seats in the state, health minister Ma Subramanian said. On Friday, he held a seat-sharing meeting with self-financing medical and dental colleges at Government Multi Super Specialty Hospital in Omandurar Estate. Speaking to media, he said the state is against the Centre’s proposal to conduct counselling for all seats in government, private and deemed universities in the country. Like last year, the same number of UG and PG medical and dental seats will continue for 2023-2024 too, he said.