Professional freedom of government leprosy personnel.

BACKGROUND: Government employment in India is known for its lack of flexibility. We studied whether this also involved professional freedom among health personnel working for the National Leprosy Eradication Programme.

METHODS: The sample population consisted of National Leprosy Eradication Programme employees from Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh and 8 health professional groups. A questionnaire was developed for each of them to elicit information on 5 aspects of their autonomy. They were studied individually and as homogeneous groups so that comparisons were possible both within and between groups in different regions who were conducting similar health programmes.

RESULTS: National Leprosy Eradication Programme personnel enjoy a high degree of autonomy within the organization. This autonomy was evident in both states investigated, despite different administrations and it was not connected with the professional positions they held. Professional freedom correlated with the training activities, promotional prospects and commitment to the organization.

CONCLUSIONS: The National Leprosy Eradication Programme job is not rigid because the organization is small and the intellectual needs of the professionals are met within it.