The Delhi government is preparing to declare leprosy a notifiable disease under the Delhi Epidemic Diseases Act, a move aimed at strengthening surveillance, ensuring early diagnosis, and improving treatment compliance across the national capital.
Proposal Submitted for Approval
The proposal, drafted by the Delhi Health Department, has been submitted for necessary approvals. Once implemented, Delhi will join states such as Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Karnataka, and West Bengal that have already classified leprosy as a notifiable disease.
Mandatory Reporting for All Healthcare Providers
Under the proposed notification, all government and private healthcare providers—including clinics, hospitals, and individual practitioners—will be required to report every new case of leprosy to the District Leprosy Officer.
This step is expected to enable better tracking of cases, targeted public health interventions, and timely treatment using standard Multi-Drug Therapy (MDT), which is available free of cost at government health facilities.
India Still Bears Major Global Burden
Although India achieved elimination of leprosy as a public health problem in 2005 (defined as a prevalence rate below 1 per 10,000 population), the country still accounts for nearly 59% of global new cases annually.
A recent nationwide study revealed that around 44.1% of leprosy patients are treated in private healthcare settings and often remain unreported under the National Leprosy Eradication Programme (NLEP). This leads to hidden transmission and inconsistent treatment practices.
WHO Recommends Mandatory Notification
According to the World Health Organization, mandatory notification of leprosy is essential to strengthen national surveillance systems. The WHO’s independent evaluation of India’s NLEP has recommended including leprosy in the list of notifiable diseases.
Key Benefits of the Move
Declaring leprosy a notifiable disease is expected to deliver several public health benefits:
- Early detection and timely intervention, reducing disability risk
- Enhanced surveillance in high-risk and endemic areas
- Prevention of transmission through contact tracing and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP)
- Improved treatment adherence and reduced dropout rates
- Reduction in stigma by normalising leprosy as a treatable disease
Government’s Commitment to Eradication
Delhi Health Minister Pankaj Kumar Singh emphasized the importance of the move, stating that leprosy is completely curable and that mandatory reporting will help identify hidden cases and ensure dignified treatment for all patients.
The proposed notification will be issued under provisions of the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi Act, 1991, with detailed reporting guidelines to be shared with healthcare institutions across Delhi.
Toward a Leprosy-Free Future
With this step, Delhi aims to accelerate India’s goal of interrupting leprosy transmission by 2030, reinforcing a coordinated effort between public and private healthcare systems to eliminate the disease.
