The Delhi government is set to declare leprosy a notifiable disease under the Delhi Epidemic Diseases Act, a move aimed at strengthening surveillance, ensuring early detection and improving treatment compliance across the national capital, officials said on Friday, reported PTI.
Proposal cleared, awaiting final approval
The Delhi Health Department has cleared the proposal, and it is currently awaiting final approval.
Mandatory reporting for healthcare providers
Once notified, hospitals, clinics and individual practitioners will be required to report cases to the District Leprosy Officer.
This will enable targeted interventions, timely diagnosis and free treatment through Multi-Drug Therapy at government facilities, according to an official statement.
Delhi to join other states
With this move, Delhi will join states such as Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Uttarakhand and West Bengal, which have already made leprosy a notifiable disease.
Health minister highlights benefits
Health Minister Pankaj Kumar Singh said the step would help identify hidden cases, curb transmission and ensure that all patients receive standard treatment with dignity.
“Leprosy is completely curable. Making it a notifiable disease will help us find hidden cases, stop transmission and ensure every patient gets standard treatment with dignity,” he said.
Notification expected soon
The notification is expected to be issued following approval under the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi Act, 1991. Detailed reporting guidelines will be shared with healthcare institutions across Delhi thereafter.
India’s leprosy burden remains significant
India officially achieved the elimination of leprosy as a public health problem in December 2005, meeting the World Health Organisation criterion of less than one case per 10,000 population at the national level.
However, the country still accounts for nearly 59 per cent of global annual new cases, the statement noted, the PTI reported.
Underreporting remains a concern
Officials said a recent pan-India study found that around 44.1 per cent of leprosy patients are treated in private healthcare facilities and remain unreported under the National Leprosy Eradication Programme, leading to continued transmission in the community.
How mandatory notification will help
Authorities said mandatory reporting will aid in early detection, reduce the risk of disability, enable contact tracing and post-exposure prophylaxis, improve treatment adherence, and help address stigma by recognising leprosy as a treatable disease.
The World Health Organisation has also recommended including leprosy in the list of notifiable diseases to strengthen monitoring and control efforts.
(With PTI inputs)