Rare diseases are an area of healthcare which has been neglected in the past, predominantly due to the high cost of drug research and the limited patient pool available to get drugs to market. However, if we consider that there are over 6000 rare diseases that affect over 300 million people worldwide, with approximately 3.7 million living with a rare disease in South Africa alone – it is evident that this needs to change, and quickly, if we are to ever bridge the gap for inclusive healthcare.
To view the article written by Kelly du Plessis, CEO of RDSA, in the @PharmaBoardroom, visit