A pilot study was initiated in 1990 to investigate the feasibility of patient-to-patient motivation by having a patient who had been regular for treatment to talk to a new patient. A controlled study was begun in 1991. Only those patients who were unsuitable for admission to the ongoing controlled clinical trial were admitted to the investigation. A stratified, random procedure was used to allocate patients to either routine motivation (motivation done by clinic staff only) and patient-to-patient motivation (motivation done by treated patients in addition to clinic staff, on admission and, at 1 and 4 months). Defaulter retrieval action was taken for both groups in accordance with the DTP manual. No home visits were made. Patients defaulting after retrieval actions for a month, were considered “lost.” All 297 admitted patients completed six months of treatment. 281 patients remained for analysis (4 died and 16 had change of treatment). Forty percent (143) of 281 patients had more than 90% of treatment in both groups and nearly 60% of lost patients were in the first phase of treatment in both groups. The study revealed that patient-to-patient motivation did not result in any greater improvement in patient compliance.