Annual Nationwide Mass Drug Administration (MDA) Campaign Launched to Eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis by 2027

Key facts

• Union Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda launched the Annual Nationwide Mass Drug Administration (MDA) Campaign to eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis (LF) by the end of 2027.
• The national goal aims to eliminate LF as a public health problem three years ahead of the global Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target of 2030.
• The current campaign is being implemented across 719 blocks in 124 districts across 12 identified LF-endemic States to bring microfilaria prevalence below 1%.
• From February 2026, the National LF Programme has transitioned to a single unified annual MDA campaign, replacing the previous biannual rounds held alongside National Deworming Day.
• Hydrocele surgery for affected patients has been included under the Ayushman Bharat–Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) to ensure financial protection.
• The MDA coverage in India has improved from 75% in 2014 to 85% in 2025, while districts stopping MDA after clearing the Transmission Assessment Survey (TAS-1) rose from 15% to 41%.
• Online reporting for the elimination programme is being strengthened through the Integrated Health Information Portal (IHIP).
• The initiative involves multi-sectoral mobilisation with ministries including Panchayati Raj, Rural Development, Women and Child Development, Education, Youth Affairs, Tribal Affairs, and Agriculture.