Doctors write to Mandaviya over non availability of key leprosy drug Clofazimine

As per various media accounts, the Indian market that was reeling under acute shortage of key leprosy drug is now witnessing non-availability of Clofazimine for the past three months in private sector. Concerned over the absence of Clofazimine in the market, doctors have now moved a letter to Mandaviya seeking urgent action to ensure the availability of they key drug for the wellbeing of patients and the community.

Dermatologists and leprologists who are facing a serious challenge in treating leprosy patients who want private treatment, in their letter, have stated that though the other two drugs are very readily available, non-availability of Clofazimine is a dangerous situation as all 3 drugs have to be given together to prevent drug resistant leprosy.

According to World Health Organization (WHO), leprosy is endemic in several States and Union Territories of India, with the annual case detection rate of 4.56 per 10,000 population. The Association's secretary general, Dinesh Kumar Devaraj, added that India reports more then 1,25,000 new patients of leprosy every year.

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Association secretary-general Dr Dinesh Kumar Devaraj said, "These official numbers apart, another 50,000 to one lakh patients of leprosy are seen at the private clinics of dermatologists all over India. Alternative three-drug regimens without Clofazimine are very costly and often not feasible. Leprosy is still a dreaded disease with potential risk of transmission."

In its letter, the Association highlighted that Clofazimine is needed not just for the therapy/cure of leprosy, but also for controlling acute exacerbations of this disease, which occur frequently.

The doctors' body noted, "Clofazimine is one of the three essential drugs in the Multi Drug Treatment of Multibacillary Leprosy (MB-MDT) cases, along with Rifampicin and Dapsone. Under the NLEP (National Leprosy Eradication Programme), the government has been ensuring the steady supply of monthly blister packs for 12 months to all the Multibacillary Leprosy cases containing these 3 drugs. But, the present market crisis of Clofazimine is seriously affecting the Indian Leprosy Treatment scenario.''

"A very crucial area where Clofazimine is important, and the provision of which is not laid down in NLEP, is in the management of Type II Lepra reactions: extremely painful, disabling and long recurring conditions in many leprosy patients. Though steroids are the mainstay of management, considering the health hazards of long-term steroids, Clofazimine is being used by dermatologists and leprologists across India to bring down steroids or sometimes added if standard doses of steroids are not able to control the reactions. Clofazimine unavailability seriously jeopardizes the health of these patients,'' the Association added.

Rashmi Sarkar, president, Indian Association of Dermatologists, Venereologists and Leprologists, was quoted as saying by The Hindu, "The medicine is readily available in the government sector [government hospitals and Primary Health Centres]. It is in the private sector that the shortage is being felt and we request the government to help overcome this problem."

"In this decade, when India is fighting to eliminate the disease, easy availability of essential drugs like Clofazimine is crucial not only in government set ups but also with distributors and in pharmacies from the public health point of view," the Association further mentioned.

Times of India reports that pharma firms have told senior doctors and the association that there was a "supply chain issue" which will be resolved in the second half of the year.