Technical problems related to multidrug therapy in leprosy control

About 40% of registered leprosy patients worldwide have been, or are being, treated with multidrug therapy (MDT) in accordance with the standard regimens recommended by WHO in 1981. The conclusions that can be drawn from such an extensive experience are discussed. The most significant of these are: (i) the MDT regimens recommended by WHO are non-toxic and well-accepted by patients; (ii) as regards the efficacy of these regimens, post-therapeutic relapses, in both multibacillary and paucibacillary patients, have been negligible when observed over periods of one to three years. The overall conclusion that at present emerges is that the MDT regimens for leprosy control, as recommended by WHO in 1981, should continue to be applied without any modification.