Halfway during the 19th century about eight leprosy institutions existed in the Netherlands Indies, but the number of patients admitted to these institutions decreased during the second half of the century. The 1891 Koloniaal Verslag starts its report on leprosy by stating that in the few leprosy institutions still left, mostly situated on Java, a limited number of patients had been treated.
Since the 1850s, three institutions were closed: in Gorontalo (North Celebes), in Benkoelen (Sumatra) and one in the Riouw Archipel. During the years 1877 and 1878 only 12 patients had been counted in the Benkoelen institution that was financed by the NI Government.

The institution in Benkoelen had been opened in 1866 and was closed in 1889.