Ras Adiba’s call for inclusion warmly welcomed

THE Rare Diseases Alliance Foundation Malaysia (RDAFM) is grateful to Senator Datuk Ras Adiba Radzi for proposing that the government expand the Persons with Disabilities (PwD) category by including rare diseases and albinism, and also provide special allocations for these persons under Budget 2022, “Ras Adiba hopes govt will consider 16 proposals to empower disabled group” (The Star, Sept 6; online at https://bit.ly/3okKwt9).

For such a long time, people with rare diseases have suffered in silence, with many facing insurmountable financial burdens in care and treatments. Most rare diseases are lifelong and involve many body systems while the specific treatments, when available, are often unaffordable. Wrong diagnoses can gravely affect their health and well-being.