In 2024, the World Health Organization (WHO) recorded 172,717 new cases of leprosy in 188 countries, representing more than 470 cases detected every day. Among them were nearly 9,400 children – a figure confirming that transmission remains active.
In this context, DOCHansen, the telemedicine platform developed by our Brazilian partner AAL Institute and supported by CIOMAL, represents a concrete tool to reduce diagnostic delays and prevent irreversible disabilities.
DOCHansen: Telemedicine Serving the Fight Against Leprosy
According to the latest WHO report (September 2025), despite a 5.5% decrease in diagnoses between 2023 and 2024, leprosy remains a neglected disease :
- 72% of cases are concentrated in South-East Asia.
- Brazil, India and Indonesia together account for nearly 80% of new global cases.
- 5.3% of patients already present severe disabilities at the time of diagnosis, a sign of late detection.
- In Brazil, over 55% of these cases are diagnosed with grade 2 disability (G2D), affecting both sensitivity and function of limbs (feet, hands or eyes).
Why does leprosy diagnosis remain a major challenge?
- Leprosy is a slow-progressing disease, with early signs appearing several years after infection – the incubation period can reach up to ten years.
- This slow progression makes diagnosis difficult and explains why official statistics often underestimate the true number of affected individuals.
- General practitioners may encounter only one or two cases in their entire career, and leprosy specialists are increasingly rare, mainly concentrated in major urban centers.
- As a result, in many remote regions, diagnosis occurs too late, when nerve and physical damage is already irreversible.
An innovative tool to act faster, with visible results
In response, DOCHansen offers a concrete solution: connecting isolated general practitioners with leprosy specialists through a free and secure digital platform.
Since its official launch in 2023, the platform has supported more than 288 consultations and trained nearly 335 healthcare professionals in early leprosy diagnosis.
This unique project addresses a real need in the field. In Brazil, the platform is officially approved by health authorities, ensuring a professional and sustainable framework.
Practitioners can register their clinical cases and receive expert feedback within 72 hours, enabling fast and reliable diagnosis.
Joining the DOCHansen platform is free for any physician or healthcare professional.
International expansion
With the support of the CIOMAL Foundation, the AAL Institute, and thanks to the generous contribution of an exceptional donor, the DOCHansen platform is about to be translated into Spanish and English, allowing expansion into Latin America and Africa, notably Argentina, Colombia, Paraguay, Uruguay, Angola and Guinea-Bissau.
This international expansion is above all a human and collective adventure. It brings together doctors, public and private institutions, patients, and the Order of Malta network around a single goal: ensuring that every patient, wherever they live, can access rapid diagnosis and appropriate care.
DOCHansen thus contributes to building a global network of expertise, bringing healthcare closer to the most vulnerable and isolated populations.
This project demonstrates that a relatively modest investment can have a major impact across two continents. Thanks to your support, this innovative solution becomes a reality, offering more accessible and equitable care to those who need it most.
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Every child deserves to receive a quality education, regardless of their family situation. Unfortunately, families affected by leprosy often face financial difficulties and are often unable to finance their children’s education. This is why the CIOMAL Foundation strives to fund the educational needs of children whose families are affected by the disease. With your help, we can give the new generation hope for a better future through education.