Leprosy in Pakistan

Abstract

Refugee movements, including the variable influx of Afghans and Biharis (the former with a considerable percentage of infectious cases), create logistic and administrative difficulties, calling for new approaches to ensure regularity of attendance, compliance to the ingestion of prescribed medication and the adequate supervision of both staff and patients. However, progress has certainly been made; deformity rates are stabilizing and in at least one part of the country (Azad Kashmir), with a static population and good work performance, incidence rates have dropped. If we can extend and maintain the implementation of multiple drug therapy, there is a realistic hope that over 80% of our cases can be treated and discharged within the next 8 years.