Dr Tariq Mahmood of MLN Medical College, addressed a four-day national conference in Kolkata on Friday Prayagraj: Early diagnosis, timely treatment and greater public awareness are crucial to achieving the goal of a tuberculosis-free India, said Prof Tariq Mahmood, head of the department of pulmonary diseases at MLN Medical College.He was addressing a gathering of pulmonary disease experts at a four-day national conference in Kolkata on Friday.Dr Mahmood said TB continues to be a major public health challenge, but concerted efforts under the National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (NTEP) have significantly strengthened the country’s ability to diagnose and treat the disease.“Govt health centres provide free TB testing, medicines and treatment facilities,” he said at the conference which commenced on Oct 29 and will culminate on Nov 1.He highlighted the role of modern diagnostic tests, including CBNAAT (GeneXpert) and Truenat, in enabling early detection of TB and identifying drug resistance. He also pointed to the six-month BPaLM regimen for eligible patients with drug-resistant TB, including MDR/RR-TB, which has emerged as a major advancement over several earlier treatment courses that lasted 18 to 20 months.Dr Mahmood stressed that patients should not discontinue medicines without medical advice and must complete the prescribed treatment. People with a persistent cough for more than two weeks should undergo testing, while family members and other high-risk individuals should be screened.He also called for greater support for TB patients and an end to discrimination, saying govt agencies, healthcare professionals and citizens must work together to eliminate the disease.