INTRODUCTION: This paper documents the variations in the diagnosis and management of multibacillary leprosy patients in three of the biggest case-holding hospitals in Metro Manila. Furthermore, we aimed to discuss the implications of these variations on the country's leprosy control and elimination program.

METHODS: Focus group discussions (FGD) were conducted with 23 health professionals composed of doctors and nurses with at least a year of experience in managing leprosy patients. The topics included procedures on patient diagnosis and management such as treatment duration, patient follow-up and definitions of treatment completion and default. The FGD participants provided suggestions to improve treatment compliance of patients. Their responses were compared with the World Health Organization (WHO) standards and/or the 2002 DOH Manual of Operating Procedures (MOP) for leprosy. Transcripts of the recordings of the FGDs were prepared and thematic analysis was then performed.

RESULTS: There were variations in the hospitals' procedures to diagnose leprosy, in treatment duration, and in patient follow-up. Definitions for treatment completion and default differed not just between hospitals but also with the WHO guidelines and the 2002 MOP. Hospitals extended treatment up to 24 or even 36 months, despite the 12 months stipulated in the MOP. Two hospitals required a slit skin smear and skin biopsy in diagnosis, despite the MOP and WHO provisions that these were not mandatory. One hospital defined default as three consecutive months without treatment, which was different from the MOP and WHO standards and from the other hospitals.

CONCLUSION: Given the variations in patient management, we recommended that the effectiveness of the standard treatment relative to other regimens being practiced by specialists be evaluated.