KARACHI: Speakers at a panel discussion held on Monday highlighted the unmet needs of patients with multiple sclerosis, calling for awareness and government support from diagnosis and treatment.

The programme on multiple sclerosis (MS)a potentially disabling disease of the central nervous system (CNS) was organised by Roche Pakistan Limited.

Dr Muhammad Wasay explained that MS was a disabling disease largely affecting young people especially women.

`Disability related to the disease could be reduced by early and effective treatment. Unfortunately, most MS patients could not afford disease modifying therapy so government support for treatment is critical,` he said.

He urged the Sindh government to come forward and support MS patients so that they could become productive members of society.

Dr Yasir Adnan shared that every five minutes, someone, somewhere in the world is diagnosed with MS.

`Currently, there are more than 2.8million people living with MS around the world. Although, there is no MS registry in Pakistan, it is estimated that there are more than 10,000 MS sufferers nationwide.

In light of the growing burden of MS across the country, he stated that a disease like this posed not only debilitating physical and health challenges for the sufferer, but also grave challenges for the families of sufferers and for society.

Dr Shahid Mustafa said that MS was not only a disabling disease, but also a stigmatising disease leading to social isolation and exclusion.

`It is important to advocate for better MS training and awareness in healthcare settings so patients receive the right information and care,` he said.

According to experts, while the exact causes of this disease are not known, scientists have identified many risk factors that may contribute to MS development, including a person`s genetics, demographic traits, environment, infection and disease history.

MS is an autoimmune disease characterised by inflammation and damage to healthy parts of the CNS, composed of thebrain and spinalcord.