On Monday 14 August 2006 the results of the MSIF/World Health Organization major survey of the epidemiology of MS and country resources for people with MS in 64 countries worldwide will be made available with the launch of the Atlas of MS website (www.atlasofms.org).

For the first time information and data on the epidemiology of MS, and the availability and accessibility of resources to diagnose, inform, treat, support and care or people with MS worldwide, can be analysed and compared at country, regional, and global levels.

The data will be organised into themes and presented in maps and graphs. The whole database will be updated every four years. Data will also be gathered on an ongoing basis from countries that have not yet submitted data and new data will be gathered for new categories and sub categories as and when necessary, for example when a new treatment becomes available.

The results will confirm that resources for MS diagnosis, treatment, care and support vary widely between countries, and in many cases appear grossly inadequate compared to the needs exhibited in most countries. MSIF believes that the value of the Atlas of MS is in replacing impressions and opinions with facts and figures. We hope that the realities uncovered by the Atlas of MS will motivate governments and health care providers to improve MS treatment and care worldwide. countries which have contributed: