Delhi govt set to declare leprosy a notifiable disease

Delhi government plans to notify leprosy under the Epidemic Diseases Act to enhance surveillance, early detection, and treatment compliance.

Published on: May 2, 2026, 03:36:16 IST

By Ridhima Gupta

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NewDelhi: The Delhi government is set to notify leprosy under the Delhi Epidemic Diseases Act, in order to strengthen surveillance, ensure early detection and improve treatment compliance across the national capital, officials said on Friday.

Officials said the proposal is now submitted for further approval with the LG office (HT)

Officials said the Delhi health department has cleared the proposal to notify the disease under the Delhi Epidemic Diseases Act, and the proposal is now submitted for further approval with the LG office.

A notifiable disease, by law, must be reported to public health authorities when diagnosed or suspected, enabling real-time surveillance, rapid response and data-driven interventions.

Once approved, the notification will mandate all government and private healthcare providers, including clinics, hospitals, and individual practitioners, to report every new leprosy case to the District Leprosy Officer. Subsequently, it will enable effective surveillance, targeted interventions, early diagnosis, and prompt treatment with standard Multi-Drug Therapy (MDT), which is available free of cost in government facilities, the health department said.

“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. This is a critical step to work towards a leprosy-free Delhi and supporting India’s journey toward interruption of transmission by 2030,” said health minister Pankaj Kumar Singh.

Other states like Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Karnataka, and West Bengal have already made leprosy notifiable.

Despite India achieving leprosy elimination as a public health problem at the national level in 2005 (prevalence rate below 1 per 10,000 population), the country still accounts for approximately 59% of global annual new leprosy cases. A recent pan-India study found that 44.1% of leprosy patients are managed by private health facilities and go unreported to the National Leprosy Eradication Programme (NLEP).

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ridhima Gupta
Ridhima Gupta is a Principal Correspondent at Hindustan Times, where she covers healthcare, pharmaceuticals, and public health policy. Her reporting centers on Delhi’s major hospitals (AIIMS, Safdarjung, Lok Nayak), the state health department, and emerging medical trends. Ridhima is particularly interested in reporting on healthcare issues through the lens of women, children, and persons with disabilities. Her work often explores the intersection of healthcare and public policy, examining how these factors shape access health care. Based in New Delhi, many of her reports have led to direct government action over the years, in different city. Earlier this year, she completed a media training workshop on the Impact of Extreme Heat on Health, organised by the Global Strategic Communications Council (GSCC), further strengthening her interest in reporting on the intersection of climate change and public health. A postgraduate from the Asian College of Journalism, Chennai, Ridhima has around a decade of experience in journalism. She began her career as a trainee television reporter with Mirror Now in Mumbai and has since worked across multiple cities, including Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Delhi, contributing to both print and broadcast newsrooms. She is a recipient of the Laadli Media Fellowship (2022) for her reporting on education, disability, and women’s issues. Before joining Hindustan Times, Ridhima worked with The Times of India, New Indian Express and News18. A native of Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh, Ridhima completed her undergraduate studies in Biotechnology. And when she is not working as a journalist she likes to paint and go on nature hikes.Read More

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