Multiple Sclerosis Care in a Low/Middle-Income Setting in South West India

Multiple sclerosis (MS) awareness has increased in India, especially in the past decade. Growing awareness of the disease among medical specialists and the public and the availability of MRI in many cities in India are partly responsible. However, income inequity and the need for out-of-pocket spending create special challenges for MS care within the region. In low-income settings, some of these limitations may be partially mitigated through subsidized inpatient and outpatient care, prescription of generic and biosimilar alternatives of MS disease-modifying therapies, and remote monitoring of patients with stability. Improving the knowledge gap among medical professionals and generating country- specific guidelines are equally important. This paper will highlight some successful measures, using the example of the Mangalore Demyelinating Disease Registry.