Key Findings
In a normal (non-disrupted) year, the annual cost of MS to Canada is significant totalling more than $3.4 billion in direct health costs, productivity loss and other costs.
The COVID-19 disruption caused delays in both MS diagnosis and MS treatment, resulting in worse outcomes for Canadians living with MS.
Delayed diagnosis and disrupted treatment will generate an additional $578.2 million in MS-related health system expenditure, productivity losses, and lost wellbeing between 2020 and 2024.
These additional health and economic costs of the COVID-19 disruption are expected to continue into the future, unless we take bold action now...
The COVID pandemic disrupted life everywhere.
The uncertain and disruptive times that COVID-19 pandemic presented to life everywhere resemble what it’s like to live with multiple sclerosis (MS) – every single day. MS Canada heard from our community that the pandemic compounded the challenges already faced by the thousands of Canadians living with MS as well as their families, their friends, their communities, and all Canadians touched by this disease.
Here’s how you can help.
We are calling on all governments to take bold action now and invest in MS research to prevent MS and to close the COVID-19 gap by boosting MS specialist care.