The Jammu & Kashmir government has declared leprosy a notifiable disease with immediate effect, making it mandatory for all healthcare facilities to report diagnosed cases to district health authorities.
The notification, issued under the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897, applies to government hospitals, private clinics, NGOs, corporate healthcare providers, and medical colleges across the Union Territory.
Every diagnosed case must be reported to the Chief Medical Officer, with copies to the District Leprosy Officer and the State Leprosy Officer under the National Leprosy Eradication Programme (NLEP).
The move aims to strengthen surveillance, ensure early detection and treatment, and prevent disabilities caused by delayed medical intervention.
This step aligns with India’s vision of a “Leprosy-Free India” and supports the WHO Global Leprosy Strategy 2021–2030, focusing on zero transmission and zero disability.
