title: Bone and joint diseases around the world. France: rheumatoid polyarthritis, chronic juvenile idiopathic arthritis, and ankylosing spondylitis. A public health priority.
abstract: Since its creation, the Association française des Polyarthrites is doing everything possible to come to the aid of people with polyarthritic diseases and to help medical research make advances against this illness. Each year, with the help of sponsors, we organize a national information campaign with first-hand accounts and presentations by sufferers on radio and television stations, so that polyarthritis should be better understood by the general public. Last year, together with other associations, we asked the Minister of Health about the barriers to receiving innovative treatment for polyarthritis because of the cost. Because of this action, the Minister has made additional funds available so that more sufferers can benefit from new treatment. Recently, several associations dealing with chronic and serious inflammatory rheumatic illnesses who came together as an action group presented a text to the Minister of Health about the urgent need to make these illnesses a public health priority. Working sessions between the Minister, patient associations, and rheumatologists to consider how to implement a public health plan are in progress.
authors.affiliation: French Association of Polyarthritis, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Aimée Jeanne
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Rose
mesh_terms: D001171:Arthritis, Juvenile / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006265:Health Care Coalitions / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000639:trends; D006266:Health Education / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends; D006292:Health Priorities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D009313:National Health Programs / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000639:trends; D010344:Patient Advocacy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends; D013167:Spondylitis, Ankylosing / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*