Leprosy Mailing List
– December 10th, 2006
Ref.: How valid are
any of these figures?
From: Baniprasad (Mr), Bankura,
WB, India
Dear Dr Noto,
Thank you for your message; I am not a Doctor but a
school-teacher having interest in leprosy and particularly in the
social aspects of the disease.
Regarding my previous letter (LML Dec. 2nd, 2006)
I want to clarify that about 70 % Indian population avail government (govt)
medical facility. Though
a number of active surveys has been done it can be assumed that 70% of
population will come voluntarily to govt health providers in case of
leprosy also. Though a
number of NGOs is working in this field, they shoulder the
responsibility of govt mainly. Moreover,
the relatively affluent class in all levels is reluctant to seek
advice from local govt / non-govt hospitals along with relatively
lower class of peoples. This
is true in general; in case of leprosy I dare to think opposite
happening. So: -
1.)
Is there any statistical analysis what is the percentage of
cases recorded with private practitioners compared to total reported
cases?
2.)
I am not expert in this field.
But I have read and have the experience that Indian private
practitioners do not keep record of cases and they report the cases to
relevant authorities rarely. In
MALARIA also where there is sell of anti-malarial drugs in market and
this implies that there is much more than the reported cases. I
have made some enquiries in local drug stores, they have informed me
that rifampicin 600MG (though rarely used for TB) in monthly dose is
mainly prescribed for Hansen’s disease so also dapsone (rarely used
for other diseases like pemphigus etc). So, can any reflection on
number of non-reported cases be obtained from sell record of these
types of drugs in market?
3.)
There may be over-diagnosis (sometimes under-diagnosis also)
in private practitioners but the cases treated by them should be come
in count in a vast country like INDIA for proper programme
management.
Baniprasad
Soma
Banerjee
Qr No A/2
Site -B, Ailakandi Rhe,
P.O.- Kenduadihi Dist- Bankura
WB- 722102 India
Phone n.
09434335732
