Barriers to accessing rehabilitation therapies Barrier present in country of interest? World Bank category High income WHO region European Global results
% of countries reporting reasons for rehabilitation therapies being rationed or not available quickly enough
Lack of awareness of therapies amongst healthcare professionals Not Asked 36% 42% 52%
Lack of healthcare professionals able to provide therapies Not Asked 56% 52% 59%
Equipment for therapies not readily available Not Asked 14% 33% 38%
Too expensive for the government, health/insurance provider Not Asked 56% 67% 57%
Too expensive for people with MS Not Asked 47% 45% 55%
People with MS do not take the rehabilitation therapies offered Not Asked 17% 12% 15%
Therapies are not available in all parts of the country Not Asked 56% 58% 66%
Therapies are not available consistently over time Not Asked 53% 45% 48%
Bureaucracy, inefficiency or complexity in health system Not Asked 44% 39% 40%

What is the Atlas of MS?

The Atlas of MS is the most comprehensive worldwide study of the epidemiology of MS and the global availability and accessibility of resources for people with MS.

Explore the latest MS data

Access the latest Atlas of MS reports, infographics, slides and datasets to support research, advocacy and policy development. Planning an analysis or publication? Contact the Atlas team at [email protected] for guidance on methodology, data interpretation and related work.

Powerful tool for change

The information in the Atlas of MS can be a powerful advocacy tool, shining a spotlight on MS and raising awareness of the lack of adequate resources available to diagnose, inform, treat, rehabilitate and support people with MS worldwide.

With thanks to…

Worldwide collaboration

The Atlas of MS relies on data supplied by MS organisations from around the world. We are most grateful to the country coordinators and their colleagues for taking the time and effort to gather the information and data.

See contributor list

The Atlas of MS is one of the strongest examples of what the global MS movement can achieve through collaboration. By bringing together evidence from countries around the world, it helps inform policy, strengthen advocacy and guide future investment in research and healthcare. The Atlas also highlights the need for continued investment in surveillance, registries and data systems to strengthen our understanding of the true burden of MS. Better data lead to better decisions and, ultimately, better outcomes for people affected by MS worldwide.

Professor Mario Alberto Battaglia
Chair, MS International Federation (MSIF) and President of the Italian MS Society (Associazione Italiana Sclerosi Multipla [AISM])