People with multiple sclerosis spend an average of €17,000 a year on scans, doctors and hospital visits, according to a new report on the financial impact of the disease.
The vast majority of people with MS visit their GP at least six times a year, spend substantial amounts on care, and suffer from fatigue, the report carried out by MS Ireland indicates.
Up to €10 million a year could be saved by reducing the number of relapses experienced by sufferers, it says.
The report estimates the total direct and indirect cost to Irish society from the disease at more than €429 million a year, equivalent to €46,900 per person with MS.
According to the research, people with MS require 54,000 GP visits per year, spend more than 16,000 nights in hospital and make more than 1,500 emergency department visits annually. People with MS also account for almost 22,000 neurology visits annually.
Almost 600 people were surveyed for the report, which found each received nearly 1,000 hours of care per year, some of it unpaid. One-quarter said their carers took time off work to provide care. Within this group, one-fifth gave up work completely to provide care.
One in seven people with MS are in receipt of formal care, either privately or from the HSE. Family and friends provide care to two-thirds of sufferers.
"We need to use these findings to influence a reduction in relapses and in progression of this disabling disease," said Ava Battles, chief executive of MS Ireland. "Responses from families throughout Ireland have clearly shown that improved employment opportunities are needed for those with MS."
