Rare diseases day

• Rare Disease Day is observed on the last day of February every year to spread awareness about rare diseases among the people and provide a platform to talk about their impact globally.
  • With 2024 being a leap year, the day was marked on February 29 this time.
• The day was set up by the EURORDIS (the European Organization for Rare Diseases) in 2008.
  • EURORDIS is a non-profit alliance of more than 1,000 rare disease patient organisations across 74 countries in the world.

ABOUT RARE DISEASES

• According to the World Health Organization, rare diseases afflict 1 or less per 1,000 population.
• Barely 5% of the over 7,000 known diseases worldwide are treatable.
• Most patients typically receive only basic treatment that alleviates symptoms.
• Some require exorbitantly priced antidotes and supportive medication throughout their lives, which they can’t afford.