Integrated Approach for Leprosy Elimination in India

India is one of 14 countries where leprosy is still endemic. It contributes 65% of the world’s total cases. Since the disease carried intense social stigma and was linked closely with poverty, the Indian government thought it prudent to hand over responsibility for its control to a separate staff with exclusive facilities. This approach gave a tremendous boost to the program. However, the latest detection trends do not show any appreciable declines and this separate structure may be working against the cause of leprosy. There are a multitude of challenges that remain to be addressed, including the stigma attached to leprosy, lack of community involvement and limited facilities. In addition, the exclusive infrastructure is costly and not sustainable. It is now being debated whether this approach has become counterproductive in terms of outreach and expenditure. This paper makes a case that this approach has outlived its utility, and argues for an integrated model. If the program is not to lose its focus it should address the current challenges so that it can sustain itself in the long run.