The World Health Organization (WHO) has said that access to treatment for leprosy is essential to global efforts to eliminate the disease.
In a statement ahead of World Leprosy Day, observed on 25 January with the theme, “Leprosy is curable, the real challenge is stigma”, WHO spotlighted the importance of partnerships and progress in tackling the disease.
Leprosy, caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium leprae, is one of the oldest diseases known to humanity. The disease primarily affects the skin and peripheral nerves, and if left untreated, can cause progressive and permanent disabilities, as well as social stigma and isolation. However, it can be cured with multidrug therapy (MDT), WHO said.
Efforts to eliminate leprosy have led to reductions in new cases in many regions. Of the 188 countries, areas, or territories that submitted data in 2024, 55 reported zero cases. Nevertheless, 172,717 new cases were detected worldwide and reported to WHO in the same year.
Many partners, including pharmaceutical companies such as Novartis, have supported global leprosy elimination efforts. Since 2000, WHO has collaborated with Novartis to provide MDT and clofazimine free of charge to all leprosy patients worldwide. The partnership remains one of the most sustained pharmaceutical donation programmes in global health.
Marking 25 years of collaboration, WHO and Novartis have extended their Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for an additional five years (2026–2030). The extension includes continued supply of MDT and funding for the procurement and distribution of single-dose rifampicin (SDR) for post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP).
Dr. Jeremy Farrar, WHO Assistant Director-General for Health Promotion, Disease Prevention and Care, said: “The unwavering commitment of partners like Novartis over the past quarter-century has been foundational to the progress made against leprosy. Their steadfast support in ensuring free access to treatment has transformed millions of lives and brought us closer to a world free from this ancient disease.”
Farrar noted that free MDT has made it possible to cure leprosy, prevent disabilities, reduce stigma, and enable affected individuals to continue working and leading normal lives. He added that clofazimine has been critical in treating lepra reactions—sudden, severe inflammatory episodes that can lead to disabilities if untreated.
Dr. Lutz Hegemann, President of Global Health at Novartis, said leprosy is one of the oldest infectious diseases and that combating it has been part of the company’s history since the first effective cure was discovered. “Over the last 25 years, we have reached millions of patients with WHO, and we are committed to going further to pursue our vision of a world free of leprosy,” he said.
Hegemann added that while significant progress has been made, sustaining momentum requires political commitment, community engagement, and continued collaboration.
This year also marks the 25th anniversary of Mr. Yohei Sasakawa’s work as WHO Goodwill Ambassador for Leprosy Elimination. Sasakawa highlighted that the social stigma attached to leprosy can be more challenging than the disease itself and often persists even after treatment, particularly for people with residual disabilities.
“They may face discrimination, including forced divorce, lost educational opportunities, and unfair dismissal. Even after being cured, they endure the unending pain of social exclusion,” Sasakawa said.
He noted that since leprosy is among the target diseases under the broader category of Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs), this work also contributes to global efforts to eliminate NTDs.
