In May 2025, the Indian Government announced the classification of leprosy as a 'notifiable disease' across the whole country. This means that each newly detected case of leprosy in India must be reported to the National Leprosy Eradication Program. Lepra warmly welcomes this new ruling. By mandating the reporting and recording of new cases of leprosy, India has taken an important proactive step in tackling leprosy head on with full transparency. This will help to ensure people affected by leprosy gain easier access to the treatment and support services available to them. Areas with high prevalence can also be more easily identified, and awareness and treatment campaigns targeted more efficiently. The implementation of this ruling will significantly contribute to the World Health Organisation’s 2030 Global Leprosy Strategy's aims of preventing disability and interrupting the transmission of leprosy. The important step also builds on Lepra’s long-term vision of a world free from leprosy.
The new initiative will mean more people like Kashi Ram can access much-need support at the point of diagnosis.
Living in a remote village in Madhya Pradesh, 35-year-old Kashi Ram was working as a labourer providing for his family of seven when, last year, he developed symptoms of leprosy. His lack of mobility left him struggling to support his family causing him anxiety and depression.
Due to a lack of awareness about leprosy, people in his community avoided him, fearing transmission. This social isolation worsened his sense of helplessness and loneliness. Originally, he sought help from traditional healers but his condition failed to improve.
Once Kashi was officially diagnosed at a local hospital, he was given free multidrug therapy treatment, and encouraged to attend a local Self-Support Group (SSG).
Read how with the support of the SSG and community intervention, Kashi Ram has made significant progress in managing his condition and reintegrating into society.
With your support, we can continue to help to identify the missing millions of people living with undiagnosed leprosy to begin their journey to recovery.
Thank you, 
Jimmy Innes
Chief Executive | 
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