Multiple Sclerosis is a chronic incurable disease in which the insulating layers of nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord are damaged, leading to deteriorating symptoms such as fatigue, numbness, difficulty in walking and speaking, and impaired vision. In recent times, the number of people suffering from Multiple Sclerosis in India has increased from 1 per lakh people to 3 per lakh people, leading to an estimated 90,000 cases in the country, of which 3,500 can be found in the city of Mumbai.

The symptoms of this debilitating condition first appear when patients are in the prime of their lives, but it is not fatal. Over a period of 15-20 years, patients find themselves becoming more and more disabled, with the disease taking a toll on both their lives and that of their family – physically, emotionally and financially, for many years.

The only treatment for Multiple Sclerosis is to detect the condition in its early stages and delay its progression through lifestyle adjustments and a regimen of medicines that cost between INR 40,000 to INR 70,000 per month. In India, the lack of diagnosis and affordable health care are the biggest challenges faced by Multiple Sclerosis patients. However, support groups such as the Multiple Sclerosis Society of India (MSSI) are helping patients cope, and are also lobbying with the government for policy changes, to give these patients access to affordable health care and disability benefits.