7 April 2025 · Global Partnership for Zero Leprosy

The Patient’s Charter for Leprosy Care: Patient Rights and Responsibilities

A vital document designed to empower individuals affected by leprosy by clearly outlining their rights and responsibilities within the healthcare system. It ensures that care is delivered with transparency, accountability, and respect, fostering an environment where patients receive the dignity and quality treatment they deserve.

The Patient’s Charter for Leprosy Care: Patient Rights and Responsibilities

The Patient’s Charter for Leprosy Care is a vital document designed to empower individuals affected by leprosy by clearly outlining their rights and responsibilities within the healthcare system. It ensures that care is delivered with transparency, accountability, and respect, fostering an environment where patients receive the dignity and quality treatment they deserve.

This Charter provides a framework for equitable access to high-quality healthcare, enabling informed decision-making and active participation in treatment and recovery. It serves as a guide for patients to navigate the healthcare system while also emphasizing their role in maintaining their health and well-being.

At its core, this document establishes a foundation for collaboration between patients and healthcare providers, built on mutual respect, trust, and shared responsibility. By recognizing both patient rights and responsibilities, the Charter promotes fairness and ensures that healthcare remains person-centered.

The rights outlined in this Charter affirm every patient’s access to quality care, respectful treatment, and clear medical information. Patients should be well-informed about their condition, treatment options, and available support. At the same time, the Charter highlights patient responsibilities, such as open communication, adherence to medical advice, and respect for healthcare providers—contributions essential to the success of treatment.

Ultimately, the Patient’s Charter for Leprosy Care aims to create a healthcare experience that is respectful, safe, and effective. By fostering trust, accountability, and empathy, it encourages a strong partnership between patients and healthcare providers, ensuring the best possible health outcomes.

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Improving early case detection in leprosy: Reports from recent workshops

In an editorial published in Leprosy Review, Dr. Paul Saunderson shares outcomes from and reflects on our first research workshop, held in September 2021, and subsequent ILEP conferences which focused on early case detection.

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Improving funding transparency to advance leprosy research

A letter to the editor published in the September 2022 issue of Leprosy Review.

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A Comprehensive Research Agenda for Zero Leprosy

The Zero Leprosy Research Agenda was published in Infectious Diseases of Poverty. 

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Persons affected by leprosy and the COVID-19 global health crisis: a consultative calls report from GPZL’s emergency response Working Group 2

A report from GPZL’s Emergency Response Working Group 2, published in the December 2020 issue of Leprosy Review.

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GPZL Working Group 1 assesses challenges and a path forward for leprosy during COVID-19

A report from GPZL’s Leprosy Emergency Operations Committee (LEOC), published in the December 2020 issue of Leprosy Review.

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Challenges and a Path Forward for Leprosy during COVID-19: Working Group 1 Report

Working Group 1 found that COVID-19 was having a direct impact on clinics, MDT supply, patient access to care, and NGO activities.

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Editorial: Evidence, opportunity, ethics, and the allure of zero leprosy by David G. Addiss

After a decade in which the long-term downward trend in the number of people diagnosed with leprosy (also known as Hansen’s disease) has stalled, there is new momentum toward a vision of zero leprosy. This has been facilitated by scientific advances, particularly related to post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) for leprosy, and the coming together of the leprosy community in a new Global Partnership for Zero Leprosy.

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Persons Affected by Leprosy and the COVID-19 Global Health Crisis: Working Group 2 Consultative Calls Report

Emergency Response Working Group 2: Emergency Advocacy for Persons Affected, has conducted consultative calls with individual persons affected and persons affected organizations to gather information about the challenges persons affected are facing during the COVID-19 pandemic. This report details these challenges and concerns, covering access to health care, access to fundamental goods, access to government support, access to stable livelihoods, access to information about COVID-19, and the impact of intersecting vulnerabilities on the resiliency of persons affected.

In addition to the report, this document includes recommendations of specific actions NGO and government leaders can take to address the needs and challenges of persons affected during the COVID-19 pandemic. The final section of the report is an open letter on COVID-19 and leprosy addressed to UN Member States from UN Special Rapporteur on the elimination of discrimination against persons affected by leprosy and their family members, Alice Cruz.

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GPZL Reports on Research Priorities

Reports on GPZL’s research priorities submitted to Leprosy Review, published in the September 2019 issue.

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Letter: Update on the Global Partnership for Zero Leprosy (GPZL)

Letter to the Editor submitted to Leprosy Review, published in the September 2019 issue. This letter details the progress of the Global Partnership for Zero Leprosy and lays out the Partnership’s goals for the future.

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Research Report: Diagnostics

The GPZL’s Research Agenda Working Group analyzed current research and developed priorities in several key areas that could accelerate progress towards zero leprosy. Download the report on diagnostics here.

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Research Report: Vaccines

The GPZL’s Research Agenda Working Group analyzed current research and developed priorities in several key areas that could accelerate progress towards zero leprosy. Download the report on vaccines here.

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Research Report: Stigma

The GPZL’s Research Agenda Working Group analyzed current research and developed priorities in several key areas that could accelerate progress towards zero leprosy. Download the report on stigma here.

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Research Report: Operational Research

The GPZL’s Research Agenda Working Group analyzed current research and developed priorities in several key areas that could accelerate progress towards zero leprosy. Download the report on operational research here.

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Research Report: Epidemiologic Modeling

The GPZL’s Research Agenda Working Group analyzed current research and developed priorities in several key areas that could accelerate progress towards zero leprosy. Download the report on epidemiologic modeling here.

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Research Report: Disability

The GPZL’s Research Agenda Working Group analyzed current research and developed priorities in several key areas that could accelerate progress towards zero leprosy. Download the report on disability here.

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Research Report: Digital Health

The GPZL’s Research Agenda Working Group analyzed current research and developed priorities in several key areas that could accelerate progress towards zero leprosy. Download the report on digital health here.

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