In an effort to curb the spread of leprosy and ensure timely treatment for patients, the Maharashtra government has officially declared leprosy a “notifiable disease.” As per this directive, it is now mandatory for all doctors and healthcare institutions to report every diagnosed case of leprosy within two weeks to the respective district health office, Assistant Director (Health Services – Leprosy), and local municipal health authorities, health officials said.
Leprosy is an infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae, which primarily affects the skin, peripheral nerves, eyes and other organs. Despite medical advancements, fear, stigma, and misconceptions about the disease persist in society. If diagnosis or treatment is delayed, patients may develop deformities (Grade 2 disability).
The health department has emphasised that early diagnosis and complete treatment are key elements in controlling leprosy. Officials said that the state had set a goal of achieving a ‘Leprosy-Free Maharashtra by 2027.’ The objectives include completely breaking the chain of infection, reducing disease transmission to zero, eliminating deformities among children, and eradicating social discrimination against persons affected by leprosy.
To achieve these targets, all doctors—both in public and private sectors—as well as pathologists, microbiologists, healthcare staff, and field officers are required to ensure proper treatment, follow-up all diagnosed cases, and administration of Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) to their close contacts.
As of September 2025, Maharashtra has reported 7,863 new leprosy cases, with 13,010 patients currently under treatment. Against this backdrop, the health department has urged all medical professionals to strictly adhere to the notification and reporting norms for leprosy cases.
The department has also appealed to the general public not to fear the disease. If any symptoms appear, individuals should immediately visit the nearest health centre. Leprosy is a completely curable disease—provided it is diagnosed and treated on time.
Dr Ishwar Gilada, consultant in infectious diseases, Unison Medicare and Research Centre, Mumbai, when contacted, said not all leprosy cases are infectious. “Especially, neuritic leprosy–leprosy of peripheral nerves–is non communicable. Hence, while making it notifiable, only infectious leprosy should be notifiable,” he said.
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Leprosy, also called Hansen’s disease, was declared notifiable in 2005 uniformly under the National Leprosy Eradication Programme (NLEP), Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. Before that it was notifiable in some states. It was once again redeclared as notifiable in 2017 to strengthen the surveillance. According to Dr Gilada, the stigma associated with leprosy is so high that dedicated colonies of leprosy had cropped up in almost all urban townships. “Stigma was so high that the leprosy patients were termed by a derogatory word, lepers. It took a long-drawn fight to eliminate that term,” Dr Gilada recalled.
“India repealed many discriminatory laws against persons affected by leprosy (eg, marriage, employment, voting restrictions). However, some administrative rules like the railway concession distinction still persist. During the British era, the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the British administration and missionary institutions operated a policy of strict segregation for people affected by leprosy. ‘Leper coaches’ or ‘leprosy compartments’ were special train carriages designated for people with leprosy who needed to travel—usually to leprosy asylums or hospitals.
“There should be no scope for discrimination against the leprosy patients anymore,” he said.
