Poor Awareness of Rare Diseases in India: A Report

In India, it appears that a key obstacle to effectively combating rare diseases is lack of awareness and insufficient diagnosis.

A major barrier to effectively combat rare disorders such as Wilsons disease, Gauchers disease, Tyrosinemia Type I, and Dravet-Lennox Gastaut syndrome in India seems to be lack of awareness and inadequate diagnosis, according to GlobalData, a data and analytics company.

Lack of Awareness & Diagnosis Hinders Treatment of Rare Diseases

In November 2023, the Union Health Ministry authorized the sale of four generic medications for the treatment of rare diseases. This approval was a significant milestone in the fight against rare diseases in India. These approved indigenous products, along with other products yet to be approved, will aid patients suffering from rare diseases.

The four approved medications are used to treat Wilson's disease, Gaucher's disease, Tyrosinemia Type I, and Dravet-Lennox Gastaut syndrome. Earlier, these therapies were imported to India and would cost Rs 18-36 million (US$ 0.22- 0.44 million) for annual treatment of Gaucher's disease alone.

Test Your Knowledge on Rare Diseases
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‘Improving rare disease awareness in India is a multifaceted challenge that requires coordinated efforts from the government, healthcare professionals, patient advocacy groups, research institutes, pharmaceutical companies, and the media. #rarediseases #awareness #patientoutcome #medindia’

With this approval, patients with rare diseases can now access the therapy at a significantly reduced cost of Rs 0.3-0.6 million (US$ 0.0037- 0.0073 million), which is 100 times less than the imported medicines. Over the next few months, the health ministry will also be releasing medications for additional rare illnesses, such as hyperammonemia and phenylketonuria.

“Rare diseases, by definition, afflict a small number of individuals in a population. In the vast population of India, rare diseases are often overlooked, and a silent struggle persists surrounding the diagnosis and treatment of rare diseases," said Jithendra Kancharla, Pharma Analyst at GlobalData, in a statement.

Spotlighting Wilson Disease & Rare Disorders in Public Health Policy

In 2021, the government of India put forward the National Policy for Rare Diseases (NPRD-2021) () to work on the lapses in fighting rare diseases. As a part of it, eight centers of excellence for the diagnosis and treatment of rare diseases are established, along with additional testing centers and financial support for patients undergoing treatment.

"Despite these initiatives, rare diseases continue to be a pressing healthcare issue in India," Kancharla said. According to GlobalData’s Pharmaceutical Intelligence Center, the number of 10-year diagnosed prevalent cases of Wilson’s disease in India is expected to increase at an annual growth rate (AGR) of 0.36 percent from 53,988 in 2023 to 55,150 in 2030.

Wilson's Disease
This is a rare inherited systemic disorder of copper metabolism, affecting the liver mainly before other organs.

After China, India has the second highest diagnosed prevalent cases among the major markets like Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Spain, the UK, and the US. Rare diseases pose significant challenges due to the scarcity of information, limited research, and insufficient awareness among healthcare professionals and the public.

The government must step up to create awareness among people and educate healthcare professionals about the symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment. This can be achieved through efficient social media and digital campaigns.

First Steps for a Rare Disease Policy in India
Globally, there are 7000 rare diseases and counting. In India, there are nearly 7 crore people affected by a rare disease.

The recent launch of LivAlert to promote awareness about Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) and Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH) by the National Program for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases, and Stroke (NPCDCS) is a good example of efficient campaigning to increase disease awareness.

“Big Pharma companies, by virtue of their resources and influence, have a significant role to play in promoting rare disease awareness. Additionally, focus on enhancing diagnostic facilities, especially in rural and under-served areas, to enable the early detection of rare diseases," he added.

India Needs a Health Policy for Rare and Genetic Disorders
Karnataka High Court directed the state-run Indira Gandhi Institute of Child Health (IGICH), to provide free treatment to patients suffering from (LSDs).

Reference:

Initiatives by the Government for treatment of rare diseases - (https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1846230)

Source-IANS