Tue 7 October 2025
Future of MS Care roundtable explores new models for equity and access
On Thursday, 2nd October, AdPha convened the Future of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Care Roundtable, bringing together senior clinicians, researchers, and consumer representatives to discuss how to improve access, equity, and outcomes for Australians living with MS.
The roundtable examined inequities in MS care across public and private systems and between metropolitan and regional areas. Participants also explored emerging patient-centred and decentralised models of care, before developing a set of recommendations aimed at supporting fairer, more effective MS care nationwide.
This discussion forms part of AdPha’s Advanced Pharmacy Models of Care series, which focuses on advancing innovative pharmacy practices that reach more Australians in more places.
MS remains a growing challenge for Australia, with 33,335 people living with the condition in 2021 — up from 25,600 in 2017. Women are two to three times more likely to be affected, and the average time from symptom onset to diagnosis remains around four years. Out-of-pocket costs for patients can exceed $9,000 annually, while access to specialised support is limited, with only 90 MS nurses nationally — approximately one for every 284 patients.
AdPha extended thanks to MS Australia, MS Nurses Australasia (MSNA), the Neurological Alliance Australia (NAA), and all roundtable participants for their expertise and commitment. Special appreciation was also given to Roche for supporting the event, and to AdPha representatives John Evans FANZCAP (Lead&Mgmt), Sally Ridgers, Jerry Yik FANZCAP (Lead&Mgmt), and Alana Donaldson, along with Neurology Specialty Practice members Karen Honson FANZCAP (Neuro., Surg.) and Lauren Hinkley ANZCAP-Reg., for facilitating the important conversation.
AdPha looks forward to continuing the collaboration to ensure all Australians living with MS have equitable access to high-quality, patient-centred care.
Pictured: John Evans (AdPha), Kerryn Griffett (Melbourne Health), Karen Honson (AdPha), Lauren Hinkley (AdPha), Jerry Yik (AdPha), Meaghan Osborne (MSNA), Belinda Bardsley (MSNA), Shi-Sharna Henery (Alfred Health MS Clinic), David Ali (NAA), Professor Richard Macdonnell (Austin Health), Deanna Renee (MS Australia), Tracy Jones-Bower (Roche), Carryn King (Roche), Sally Ridgers (AdPha).