STOCKHOLM, Sweden--(BUSINESS WIRE)--In 2014, the WHO Member States recognized psoriasis as a serious NCD in resolution WHA67.9. The resolution underscored that too many people in the world suffer needlessly from psoriasis due to incorrect or delayed diagnosis, inadequate treatment options, insufficient access to care and because of social stigmatization. The Global report on Psoriasis brings the public health impact of psoriasis into focus. The report also recognizes the urgent need to pursue multilateral efforts to raise awareness regarding psoriasis and to fight stigmatization suffered by those with psoriasis. The report is written to help raise awareness of the range of ways that psoriasis can impact on people´s lives. It aims at empowering policymakers with practical solutions to improve the healthcare and the social inclusion of individuals with psoriasis and other NCDs – in society.
Lars Ettarp, President of IFPA, comments:
“The Global report on Psoriasis prepared by the World Health Organization in which IFPA contributed with comments and expert technical review, is a milestone for the global psoriasis community. IFPA together with its members, representing more than 125 million people living with psoriasis around the world, wishes to express its greatest gratitude to all stakeholders involved in the formation of this highly important report, especially the World Health Organization”
Recommended actions by the WHO
As stated in the Global report on Psoriasis the control of psoriasis and prevention of its complications require action by governments and policy makers. Furthermore, scientists, health professional and the associations uniting them have an important role to play in improving the QoL (Quality of Life) of people suffering from psoriasis. Patients´ organizations, civil society and the media are crucial in advocating for change and helping fight stigma and ignorance.
IFPA welcomes and supports the recommended actions by the WHO as they are of utmost importance and a prerequisite for improving the lives of people with psoriasis. This will only be achieved by joint forces from all stakeholders by together raising public awareness about psoriasis holistically (covering all conditions of the disease, including psycho-social) and emphasizing the need for global incidence on psoriasis.
Facts about prevalence is needed
According to the Global report on Psoriasis a key area of healthcare research is epidemiology of psoriasis and its incidence and prevalence on the global level. This determines what the consortium formed by IFPA together with the International League of Dermatology Society, ILDS, and International Psoriasis Council, IPC, also have identified. Despite of the contribution of existing published epidemiological studies to the understanding of the occurrence of psoriasis, further international research is needed to better define the global burden of the disease.
Lars Ettarp, President of IFPA, comments:
“The Global Psoriasis Atlas, GPA, has been established as an international long-term research programme with vision to be the leading epidemiological web-based resource on psoriasis globally; thus informing research, policy and healthcare provision for the disease worldwide. IFPA is proud to be part of the governance of this prominent programme that will be a useful tool in the successful implementation of the recommended actions by the WHO”
Acknowledgements
IFPA would like to take this opportunity to especially thank the WHO Secretariat for preparing the Global report on Psoriasis, to the IFPA Executive Committee and the IFPA Secretariat for their excellent work as well as to all other contributors for their comments and expert technical reviews.
Link to the Global report on Psoriasis
Global report on Psoriasis (http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/10665/204417/1/9789241565189_eng.pdf)
About IFPA
The International Federation of Psoriasis Associations, IFPA, is a nonprofit umbrella organization for the majority of psoriasis associations from around the world. Today IFPA has 53 member associations, covering all regions of the world. IFPA unites psoriasis associations so that their global campaign for improved medical care, greater public understanding and increases research will improve the lives of the more than 125 million people who live psoriasis and/or psoriatic arthritis.
You can read more about IFPA, our members and our activities on our website: www.ifpa-pso.com
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