Challenges of sustaining leprosy elimination in India and prospects of eradication: Current status & way forwards

Abstract

Leprosy Elimination in India has been a public health priority for decades and on December 31, 2005, India achieved the World Health Organization’s (WHO) goal of eliminating leprosy as a public health problem at the national level, with the prevalence rate falling below one case per 10,000 population. Despite this, India still accounts for the highest number of new leprosy cases globally, contributing more than 50 percent of the leprosy burden of the world. The country has made considerable progress in reducing the burden of leprosy over the years but challenges remain in maintaining the elimination status and preventing disabilities due to leprosy. The present review discusses the current status of leprosy in India, identifies challenges/lacunae in the implementation of the leprosy eradication program, and suggests potential steps that could be undertaken for sustained elimination of leprosy and future possible eradication of the disease from the country.