Arthritis Action Now: The New Action Plan from the Arthritis Society of Canada

Sharon Caddy speaks with Trish Barbato, President and CEO of The Arthritis Society about this bold national plan to end Arthritis.Arthritis is Canada’s silent epidemic. More than 6 million people in Canada live with arthritis today, that’s more people than diabetes, heart disease, stroke, cancer, and dementia combined. Yet arthritis remains dangerously misunderstood, chronically underfunded, and systematically ignored.The reality is stark:1 in 4 women and 1 in 6 men have arthritis25,000 children and youth currently seek healthcare for arthritis$45.9 billion annual drain on Canada’s economy#1 cause of disability, forcing millions from work and community life9 million Canadians will have arthritis by 2045 without immediate actionArthritis is a health issue that can no longer be ignored.Canada is failing arthritis patients, and the evidence is undeniable. For the second time in three years, The State of Arthritis in Canada Report Card has assigned low and failing grades to every single province and territory.In response to this crisis, Arthritis Society Canada is leading the launch of Arthritis Action Now: The Plan to End Arthritis in Canada.UNPRECEDENTED UNITY FOR CHANGEArthritis Action Now is Canada’s first actionable, coordinated strategy to transform prevention, care, and research for arthritis.It was co-created by 21 ecosystem champions organizations representing patients, clinicians, researchers, health system leaders, and advocates. Together, we engaged more than 100,000 Canadians in the largest consultation ever conducted on arthritis in Canada.This is a mobilization blueprint designed for immediate implementation across three strategic pillars.THE PLANArthritis Action Now has three interconnected pathways—policy priorities, research and innovation, and catalysts for change—to drive transformative change for the six million people in Canada with arthritis.Link to the Arthritis Action Now document:  Arthritis Action Now - Arthritis Society CanadaSEO KEYWORDS:Arthritis Action Now; Arthritis Action Now Canada; Arthritis Society Canada; Trish Barbato;  arthritis in Canada; arthritis podcast Canada; arthritis awareness Canada; arthritis advocacy Canada