Multiple sclerosis (MS) is costing Australians more than $3 billion a year, and the number of people with MS is up 77% since 2010, according to a new report from the Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania. The report highlights the growing prevalence and economic burden of MS and calls for urgent action to reduce its impact and improve outcomes for people living with the disease.
Multiple Sclerosis Prevalence and Health Economic Impact in Australia 2025, commissioned by MS Australia, found that almost 38,000 Australians are now living with MS. Tasmania continues to have the highest prevalence in the country, with 190 cases per 100,000 people, nearly double the rate in Queensland and Western Australia.
The total cost to society, including healthcare, lost productivity and informal care, exceeds $3 billion, with the cost per person averaging $79,581.
Dr Julie Campbell, health economist at Menzies Institute for Medical Research and lead author of the report, said "MS is not just a health challenge, it's also an economic one.
"For the first time, we've seen a slight decrease in inflation-adjusted average costs per person. This may reflect the impact of high-efficacy disease modifying therapies, particularly for people with relapsing remitting MS."
"But the overall economic burden of MS continues to climb as more Australians are diagnosed," said Dr Campbell.
Costs also rise sharply with increasing disability: $42,688 for those with no disability compared to $135,780 for severe disability.
Professor Bruce Taylor, neurologist and academic lead of the MS Research Flagship at Menzies Institute for Medical Research, said "Our report shows that as disability increases, quality of life declines, individuals' costs rise, and workforce participation drops. These effects are particularly pronounced for people living with progressive MS.
"Employment loss alone accounts for $846 million in costs annually," Professor Taylor said.
The report findings draw on data from the Australian MS Longitudinal Study (AMSLS), a partnership between Menzies and MS Australia that has collected real-life data from people living with MS since 2002.
Professor Ingrid van der Mei, AMSLS managing director and epidemiologist at Menzies Institute for Medical Research, said "These insights come directly from thousands of Australians with lived experience of MS.
"Their experiences give us a clear picture of the physical, psychosocial and financial challenges faced by people with MS and what needs to change, culminating in the key recommendations that are outlined in the report," said Professor van der Mei.
Professor Tracey Dickson, Director of Menzies Institute for Medical Research, said "Tasmania's MS prevalence, almost twice that of some other states, is a stark reminder of why Menzies' research matters.
"Our vision is to improve health and wellbeing of Tasmanians through world-class research. We strive to reduce the burden of diseases such as MS to our community, and these findings reinforce that commitment," Professor Dickson said.
