Teleinterconsultation as a strategy to support surveillance of physical disability in leprosy in the state of Maranhão, Brazil

This study aimed to analyze the implementation of teleinterconsultation as a support strategy for the evaluation of Grade 2 Physical Disability (G2D) in individuals diagnosed with leprosy in the state of Maranhão, Brazil. This was a cross-sectional analytical study conducted between March 2023 and March 2025, coordinated by the Maranhão State Health Department (SES-MA) in partnership with the Telehealth Center of the Federal University of Maranhão (NTS-UFMA). All new leprosy cases with G2D recorded at the time of diagnosis were included. A total of 77 evaluations were analyzed, with 47 performed in person and 30 via teleinterconsultation. The remote assessments expanded coverage in the southern and eastern health macroregions of the state. There was no significant difference in the time between diagnosis and evaluation across groups. An estimated cost saving of up to R$ 338.39 per teleinterconsultation was observed. The adoption of this strategy proved to be feasible and cost-effective, with the potential to strengthen G2D surveillance in leprosy, particularly in settings with geographic barriers and limited access to specialized services.