Vibisha Devaraj, Anuradha Rose, Vinod Joseph Abraham
Nature, prevalence, and risk factors for self-neglect among older people: a pilot study from Vellore, South India
BMC public health
despite global availability multiple sclerosis ms treatments accessing financing southeast asia sea remains challenge descriptive surveybased study aimed describe current state ms treatment access local access dynamics within region survey questionnaire comprising 15 closedended five openended questions developed three neurologists expertise ms routine ms patient management training neuroimmunology questionnaire development guided recent atlas ms alignment access treatment framework focusing ms diagnosis treatment issues sea fifteen neurologists experienced managing ms across region identified key informants study fifteen neurologists participated survey via email videoconferencing january 2020 february 2023 included following countries brunei cambodia indonesia malaysia myanmar lao pdr philippines singapore thailand timorleste vietnam least five years experience managing ms patients six previously completed neuroimmunology fellowship programme sea countries showed disparities healthcare financing availability neurologists ms treatments investigative tools access ms diseasemodifying treatments dmts hindered high cost lack ms specialists weak advocacy efforts onlabel dmts listed essential medicines regionally except interferon beta1a teriflunomide malaysia onlabel monoclonals available malaysia singapore thailand generic onlabel dmts unavailable due lack distributorship expertise using offlabel dmts azathioprine methotrexate rituximab predominate sea countries challenges include limited access investigations education knowledge dmts among general neurologists absence registries ms societies patient champions communities ms organisations limited influence local governments pharmaceutical companies despite increasing prevalence lack concerted priority setting due ms perceived rare noncommunicable disease study highlights distinct dynamics challenges research gaps within region provides suggestions improve ms diagnosis education medicine access