The National Multiple Sclerosis Society (NMSS) has launched the first national guidelines for treating Multiple Sclerosis (MS) patients in the United Arab Emirates. This initiative was developed by a dedicated scientific task force that includes members of the Society’s Medical Advisory Committee. The guidelines aim to provide optimal medical support for individuals living with MS in the UAE.

These treatment guidelines were created after a thorough investigation of the best global evidence available and accounted for the unique characteristics of the MS community in the UAE, including the wide variations in health coverage and patient preferences. The primary objective is to ensure that the most suitable treatments are accessible to the greatest number of MS patients in the UAE, while also addressing existing data gaps that may affect health insurance coverage for those with MS.

The guidelines also offer direction on treatment choices during pregnancy and lactation, as well as addressing pediatric MS, thereby supporting a broader segment of the population. Dr. Fatima Al Kaabi, Vice Chair of the NMSS, emphasized that these guidelines are founded on the best global evidence currently available and provide hope for both newly diagnosed individuals and those already living with MS. She stated that the guidelines will assist physicians in determining the most appropriate treatment plans for a large number of patients.

WAM recently reported, that Dr. Al Kaabi highlighted the pioneering nature of developing these MS treatment guidelines, noting that their implementation by healthcare authorities will facilitate their adoption by specialists throughout the nation. She mentioned that the guidelines also reflect recent treatment trends, including the use of stem cells for patients who do not respond to MS-modifying therapies, and indicated that they will be regularly reviewed and updated to incorporate the latest medical research and clinical advancements.

The NMSS has developed these treatment guidelines through a strategic, collaborative approach that involved various health authorities across the UAE. The guidelines were instrumental in shaping the Dubai Health Authority’s Multiple Sclerosis Ejadah Programme and received input from several prominent neurologists from all Emirates. Dr. Ahmed Shatila, a consultant neurologist at Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City and Chair of the Medical Advisory Committee of the NMSS, stated that the development of these guidelines represents a significant advancement in the UAE’s healthcare landscape.

The newly established MS treatment guidelines have been published in the Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders journal, an international publication backed by leading researchers in the field of neuroscience focusing on MS and related conditions. In conjunction with the release of these guidelines, NMSS has also launched the first MS Helpline in the UAE to further enhance support for the MS community.