CURRENT CONTEXT : Puducherry has become the first UT in India to integrate tuberculosis (TB) screening into the Family Adoption Programme, an NMC-mandated initiative led by medical colleges.

ABOUT FAMILY ADOPTION PROGRAMME (FAP)

• Mandated by: National Medical Commission (NMC)
• Concept: Medical students adopt 3–5 families each and engage in long-term follow-up over 3 years
• New Addition in Puducherry:
  • Routine TB screening of adopted family members as part of community outreach
  • Collaboration between medical students, colleges, and local health authorities

ABOUT NTEP IN PUDUCHERRY

• National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP) active since Feb 20, 2004
• Coverage: Single TB district covering 92 lakh population
• Infrastructure:
  • 7 TB Units
  • 28 Diagnostic Centres
  • 1 Intermediate Reference Lab (IRL) at Govt. Hospital for Chest Diseases (with Culture + Drug Susceptibility Testing)