The Health Ministry of India is introducing a new leprosy treatment program, three years ahead of schedule, to eradicate the disease by 2027. Pauci-Bacillary patients in states and territories will receive three medications instead of two starting April 1, 2025.
The Indian Health Ministry will commence a sub-national leprosy treatment program three years early to eradicate the illness by 2027, in line with the SDGs.
Based on the latest globally approved scientific research and evidence-based methods, the Ministry of Health will replace a two-drug regimen for six months with a three-drug regimen for Pauci-Bacillary (PB) cases.
DGHS Deputy Director General Dr. Sudarsan Mandal wrote to states and Union Territories that the National Leprosy Eradication Programme (NLEP) is taking all necessary steps to stop sub-national leprosy transmission.
The Indian Ministry of Health and Family Welfare treats leprosy with Multi-Drug Therapy.
“With the approval of the competent authority, the Ministry of Health has decided to introduce a three-drug regimen for Pauci-Bacillary (PB) cases in place of a two-drug regimen for six months, according to the latest globally accepted scientific research studies and evidence-based practices,” a Jan. 17 letter said.
“As the World Health Organization (WHO) has agreed to supply the revised drug regimen from April 1, 2025, therefore all states and Union Territories are requested to send their requisition of anti-leprosy drugs, 12 months before the timeline,” Mandal stated.
On April 1, 2025, Indian states and Union Territories will adopt the new paucibacillary (PB) and multibacillary (MB) leprosy classification and treatment.
“We believe that this new treatment regimen for leprosy patients will mark a significant step forward in our collective efforts to eradicate leprosy in India by 2027,” read the message.
Conclusion
The Health Ministry of India is introducing a sub-national leprosy treatment program three years early to eliminate it by 2027. PB sufferers would receive three medications for six months instead of two under the revised plan. States and union territories will follow the updated treatment regimen on April 1, 2025, to achieve SDGs. Leprosy classification and treatment for paucibacillary and multibacillary cases will be updated.
