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January 25, 2012

Novartis joins with key stakeholders in holistic approach towards leprosy elimination

• Building a strong stakeholder networking mechanism and adopting a holistic approach that goes beyond early detection and medical treatment are crucial in addressing “new challenges” to leprosy elimination that have emerged in the new millennium.

• This was the key message of Novartis Foundation for Sustainable Development Chairman Prof. Dr. Klaus M. Leisinger in his speech during the 1st Leprosy Stakeholders Symposium.
• Warning against “stagnation” in leprosy elimination efforts, Leisinger urged stakeholders to focus on disability prevention and medical rehabilitation, with the enhancement of new case detection and social rehabilitation as equally important side benefits.

Puerto Princesa, Palawan, January 25, 2012 – Building a strong stakeholder networking mechanism and adopting a holistic approach that goes beyond early detection and medical treatment are crucial in addressing “new challenges” to leprosy elimination that have emerged in the new millennium.

“While MDT [multidrug therapy] remains a solid backbone of leprosy control, new challenges have emerged in the form of the slow decrease in the number of new leprosy cases and the low level of attention directed at leprosy elimination,” warned Prof. Dr. Klaus M. Leisinger, Chairman, Novartis Foundation for Sustainable Development (NFSD).

Addressing delegates of the 1st Leprosy Stakeholders Symposium in his presentation “Eliminating leprosy from the face of the earth: Towards the realization of a global vision in the Philippines”, Leisinger noted that around 250,000 new leprosy cases worldwide are identified annually and, because of the relatively low number of cases, practitioner knowledge is decreasing. “The general impression is that old approaches seem to be unable to change the global leprosy picture in a fundamental way. Innovation is needed urgently.”

Leisinger urged all relevant stakeholders to work together, consolidate their resources and adopt a holistic approach. “Early detection and treatment are crucial, but not sufficient. Eliminating stigma through disability care and prevention as well as social rehabilitation is equally important.”

Recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) since 1981, MDT has revolutionized the treatment of leprosy. It consists of 3 drugs: dapsone, rifampicin and clofazimine. Two of the three drugs used in MDT were developed by Novartis in the late 1970s. Today high-quality MDT drugs are produced by the generic arm of Novartis, Sandoz, and made available for free by Novartis.

“MDT cures patients and interrupts disease transmission with the first dose. By preventing disabilities, MDT has been key for destigmatization efforts,” Leisinger explained.

Engaged in the global fight against leprosy since 1986, NFSD adopts a comprehensive approach in leprosy elimination. Leisinger cited some of the foundation’s holistic initiatives, which include patient information and social marketing programs to remove the stigma of leprosy (Sri Lanka, Mexico, Brazil); field-based prevention of deformity, correction, and care (India, Tanzania); creation/improvement of preconditions for the correct use of MTD (Sierra Leone, the Maldives, Indonesia, Zaire); and establishment of a mobile clinic unit to detect and treat patients in remote rural areas (Nepal).

In 1989, the NFSD established the Novartis Comprehensive Leprosy Care Association (NCLCA) in India to make disability care services more available at the village level. “We consider the NCLCA as a role model for holistic approach and a good example of a supportive NGO [nongovernmental organization],” Leisinger said. The NCLCA provides self-care education, including a self-care kit; prefabricated splints, grip-aids and MCR footwear; rehabilitation in the form of physiotherapy and reconstructive surgery; and counseling to encourage social reintegration. It also provides direct services to maintain expertise and consulting authority; strengthens government and other NGOs through scientific support; and collaborates with government to train healthcare staff.

“The NCLCA believes in specialization in favor of—not in spite of—the holistic approach,” Leisinger explained. “Our main focus should be disability prevention and medical rehabilitation, with the enhancement of new case detection and social rehabilitation as equally important side benefits.”

Leisinger stressed that leprosy control stakeholder meetings should focus on addressing the following key questions: What are the successes achieved, failures encountered, and lessons learned? What are the “low-hanging fruits,” i.e. opportunities? What is needed to improve performance?

About the Novartis Foundation for Sustainable Development

NFSD is a non-profit organization that forms a key part of the corporate social responsibility portfolio of research-based Swiss healthcare company Novartis. It operates independently of the commercial day-to-day business of Novartis. The foundation plans and supports projects designed to strengthen and secure essential healthcare provision for the poor in developing countries. Through its events and publications, it seeks to promote dialogue on development policy between public and private-sector institutions. By means of scientific analyses, it helps to define the nature and limits of corporate social responsibility, particularly for pharmaceutical companies. For more information, please visit http://www.novartisfoundation.org.

About Novartis
Novartis provides healthcare solutions that address the evolving needs of patients and societies. Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, Novartis offers a diversified portfolio to best meet these needs: innovative medicines, eye care, cost-saving generic pharmaceuticals, preventive vaccines, diagnostic tools, over-the-counter and animal health products. Novartis is the only global company with leading positions in these areas. In  2010, the Group’s continuing operations achieved net sales of USD 50.6 billion, while approximately USD 9.1 billion (USD8.1 billion excluding impairment and amortization charges) was invested in R&D throughout the Group. Novartis   Group   companies   employ approximately 121,000 full-time- equivalent associates and operate in more than 140 countries around the world. For more information, please visit http://www.novartis.com.