Ireland has the most understaffed and inaccessible neurological services in Europe for people who have multiple sclerosis, an international conference heard yesterday.
Only 17 neurologists serve an estimated 10,000 people living with multiple sclerosis (MS) in the Republic, one of the worst patient-doctor ratios throughout the EU.
In comparison, the Czech Republic has 335 neurologists for an MS population of 13,000 while in Sweden there are 400 neurologists to treat about 14,000 sufferers.
Ireland has just five neurological units compared with Finland, which has 40 units for 7,000 patients. Romania has 72 units for 10,000 patients.
Access to neurologists is also easier in Northern Ireland, where there are 30 neurologists for a total population of 1.6 million. The Republic is also among 11 European states that has no pension fund for people with MS.
The figures were released at a major European conference organised by the European Multiple Sclerosis Platform (EMSP) to build awareness of the inequities of access to services and treatments for people living with the condition in the EU.
The organisation's Atlas of Multiple Sclerosis - an online database of services across Europe - ranks Ireland bottom of the European league table for neurology services.
"It is a disgrace and a disservice to the estimated 10,000 people who have MS in this country that Ireland seems to have the worst neurological services in Europe," said Anne Winslow, chief executive of MS Ireland, who called for additional resources to be diverted to boost the number of neurologists and support staff in the Republic.
"Many of our members have to wait months for an appointment with a neurologist and even when they do get an appointment, some have to travel great distances encountering inaccessibility and discomfort."
Multiple sclerosis is a disease of the nervous system, which affects an estimated 2.5 million people worldwide. It is the most common disabling neurological disorder among young people, although it can occur at any age. There is no known cure for the condition and treatments may only be partially effective in alleviating symptoms. But early diagnosis and treatment are considered crucial.
More than 200 delegates at the conference discussed implementing a new EU-wide code of good practice on the rights and quality of life of people affected by multiple sclerosis. The code aims to address many of the problems facing people living with MS, including unemployment and low income levels. Almost 70 per cent of those diagnosed with the disorder are unemployed.
Meanwhile, John Golding, vice-president of the European multiple sclerosis association, told RTÉ he was "shocked" that Ireland had so few neurologists to cope with the 10,000 patients here. He said it seemed neurology was "a closed shop" in the Republic and that the situation needed to be alleviated.