Arthritis Action Now
“The Arthritis Action Plan is our community’s call to tackle one of Canada’s urgent health priorities with bold action for faster diagnosis, better access to care, and real hope for a cure.” – Cathie Hofstetter (Co-Chair, AAP Research & Innovation Working Group and person living with rheumatoid arthritis)
A silent crisis affecting millions
Arthritis is Canada’s most common chronic disease. It affects more than 6 million people in Canada. It is the leading cause of disability in Canada and costs our economy over $33 billion every year.
Without bold action now, by 2045, the number of people in Canada with arthritis will reach a staggering 9 million.
A movement to transform arthritis health outcomes
The Arthritis Action Plan (AAP) is Canada’s first actionable, coordinated strategy to transform prevention, care, and research for arthritis.
It is co-created by more than 22 national ecosystem champion organizations representing patients, clinicians, researchers, health system leaders, and advocates.
We’re not just creating a plan—we’re launching a movement. Together, we will elevate arthritis as an urgent health priority, eliminate barriers to care, accelerate prevention strategies, and forge bold new paths toward a cure. The time for arthritis action is now.
Arthritis Action Now
The Arthritis Action Plan is a data-driven roadmap to a healthier, more productive Canada, built on four strengths:
1. Opportunity: A revolution in Canadian health
Evidence-informed interventions to improve quality of life, reduce disability, and deliver a measurable return on investment for Canada’s health and economy.
2. Power: An unprecedented national alliance
For the first time, Canada’s arthritis community is speaking with one voice, turning fragmented efforts into a single, unstoppable movement.
3. Foundation: Co-created with one million Canadians
Inclusive, grassroots and equity driven — designed to reflect the real needs of people in every province and territory.
4. Advantage: Canada’s global leadership
Leveraging world-class research and care infrastructure to accelerate breakthroughs and position Canada as a leader in solving one of the world’s most pervasive health challenges.
The urgency is real
- Arthritis affects more people than heart disease, cancer, diabetes, stroke and dementia combined.
- Over 1/3 of people with arthritis wait longer than six months for joint replacement surgery.
- Many people with life-threatening types of inflammatory arthritis experience delays in diagnosis and access to advanced therapies, causing irreversible damage and disability.
- Indigenous Peoples, Black communities, women, racialized communities, and rural residents can face the highest burden but the least access.
- Despite its human and economic burden, arthritis receives a fraction of public health attention and remains severely underfunded compared to other chronic diseases like cancer, diabetes, mental illness and heart disease.
Arthritis is a brutal disease that can strike anyone at any age. It robs people of mobility, independence, livelihood, and physical and mental health.
Keys to success
- Grounded in real-world needs: Developed with direct patient, caregiver and family input.
- Built for impact: Measurable outcomes, system sustainability, and better quality of life for millions.
An invitation to act
The Arthritis Action Plan will be informed by the insights, priorities, and concerns of 1 million people in Canada. We will be updating this website from time to time with surveys and questions and invite you to have your voice heard as we work to co-create a brighter future for people with arthritis.
The Arthritis Action Plan is an open call for partnership not just to people with arthritis, but to our partners across Canada’s health, economic and social systems:
- All levels of government
- Corporations and large employers
- Private health insurers
- Researchers and innovators
- Philanthropists and community leaders
Together, we can end the silent burden of arthritis, and build a more equitable, sustainable, and compassionate health system for the 6 million people in Canada living with arthritis.
“The time for transforming arthritis care in Canada is now. Through unprecedented collaboration among 22 ecosystem champions across the nation’s arthritis community, we are co-creating the Arthritis Action Plan as an urgent catalyst for change. This initiative will ignite a movement that elevates arthritis as a critical health priority in Canada and accelerates our progress toward better treatments and ultimately a cure. Together, we’re turning vision into arthritis action now.” – Trish Barbato, President and CEO, Arthritis Society Canada
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Revolutionizing arthritis care, research and innovation with the Arthritis Action Plan – Champions Meeting Feb 2024
Join our mailing list
Join focus groups, share your voice through surveys and stay updated on progress.
Donate
The Arthritis Action Plan is driven by dedicated donors committed to transforming health outcomes of people with arthritis across Canada. To learn more about how you can help, contact Lori at [email protected].
Contact Us
For more information on the Arthritis Action Plan, please contact Shiwani at [email protected].
