LEARNS is a mobile health tool that enables healthcare practitioners in remote areas to refer suspected leprosy patients to experts by sending a picture of the skin lesion and patient details through their mobile phone.

To address this challenge, the DOH is implementing the National Leprosy Control Program (NLCP), in partnership with other government agencies, local government units (LGUs), civil society groups and the private sector. The NLCP aims to achieve a leprosy-free Philippines by the year 2022 by ensuring the provision of comprehensive, integrated quality leprosy services at all levels of healthcare in the country. In 2012, the DOH and Novartis Foundation signed a memorandum of understanding and formed the DOH-Novartis Task Force to help develop innovative approaches to leprosy control in line with the broader NLCP.

In 2013, Novartis Healthcare Philippines and the DOH, in partnership with the Novartis Foundation, organized the “Best Practices and Innovative Ideas in the Fight against Leprosy Contest,” with the aim of encouraging innovation to sustain the country’s fight against leprosy in the post-elimination phase. The contest received a total of 35 contest entries — 19 for the Best Practices category and 16 for the Innovative Ideas category.

“Mobile Teledermatology E-Referral System for Active Case Finding of New Leprosy Case,” the concept submitted broadcasting, patient education, and report generation.

After its successful pilot in Iloilo province in 2014, LEARNS is now being implemented in 29 provinces in nine regions, with over 6,000 healthcare providers already trained in the system. The DOH plans to expand LEARNS in other provinces including Sulu Province in Autonomous Regions for Muslim Mindanao. LEARNS is now part of the DOH national leprosy management guidelines.

Novartis Healthcare Philippines joined the DOH and Rizal Medical Center in celebrating World Leprosy Day this year with the ribbon-cutting ceremony for “Artistica Leprae,” an art exhibit that aims to promote awareness on leprosy and help end discrimination, stigma and prejudice associated with the disease. The event, which also featured an audio-visual presentation on leprosy and a lay forum, was held on Jan. 28, 2018 at the Rizal Med. Located in Pasig City, Rizal Med is a DOHretained teaching and training hospital with a 300-bed capacity and a DOHdesignated regional referral specialty center for dermatology.