Ep 75: How Geography, Healthcare Systems and Access Shape the Multiple Sclerosis Journey

Where someone lives can profoundly influence their multiple sclerosis journey.

While advances in diagnosis and treatment have transformed MS care in many parts of the world, millions of people still face significant barriers to diagnosis, specialist care and life-changing therapies.

In this episode of the ECTRIMS Podcast, host Brett Drummond speaks with Dr. Fiifi Duodu and Prof. Alfredo Damasceno about the realities of managing MS patients in diverse healthcare settings and what can be done to improve equity worldwide. Together, they discuss:

• Why MS diagnosis can take years in some regions, and how the revised 2024 McDonald Criteria are influencing earlier MS diagnosis
• The impact of limited access to neurologists and MRI
• Barriers to disease-modifying therapies and anti-CD20 treatments
• The role of regional initiatives such as AFRICTRIMS and BCTRIMS
• Why greater diversity in MS clinical trials matters

This episode highlights both the challenges and the remarkable progress being made to improve MS care across the globe.

This ECTRIMS podcast episode is supported by an educational grant from Alexion, AstraZeneca Rare Diseases. Bristol Myers Squibb, Novartis, Roche, Sanofi, and UCB. Educational grant providers have no input into the podcast series content.