Life-threatening or chronically debilitating diseases – mostly
inherited – that affect so few people that combined efforts are needed
to:
- reduce the number of people contracting the diseases
- prevent newborns and young children dying from them
- preserve sufferers' quality of life and socio-economic potential.
In EU countries, any disease
affecting fewer than 5 people in 10 000 is considered rare. That number
may seem small, but it translates into approximately 246 000 people
throughout the EU's 27 member countries. Most patients suffer from even
rarer diseases affecting 1 person in 100 000 or more.
It is estimated that today in the EU,
5-8000 distinct rare diseases affect 6-8% of the population – between
27 and 36 million people.
