THE CRISIS WE FACE
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 arthritis
- 25,000 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 life
- 9 million Canadians will have arthritis by 2045 without immediate action
Arthritis 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: A Plan to End Arthritis in Canada.
UNPRECEDENTED UNITY FOR CHANGE
Arthritis 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 PLAN
Arthritis 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.
Read Arthritis Action Now: The Plan to End Arthritis in Canada
Three pillars for transformation
Timely care. Systemic change.
CORE DEMAND: Immediate policy reform and strategic investment.
Priorities
- Timely, appropriate, and inclusive prevention and care
- Reduce arthritis-related disability
- Canada as global research leader
Canada needs immediate policy reform and strategic investment to ensure every person with arthritis receives timely, appropriate care from childhood through adulthood.
From prevention to cures.
CORE DEMAND: Strategic research investment to unlock discoveries from prevention to better treatments and cures.
Research areas
- High-quality, integrated data and clinical research platforms
- Osteoarthritis treatment breakthroughs
- Inflammatory arthritis remission
- Indigenous-led research
- Innovative life and care solutions
Invest. Accelerate. Transform.
CORE DEMAND: Strategic investment in high-impact initiatives
Discover our initiatives
- Accelerating paths to cures
- Precision medicine with AI
- Igniting arthritis innovation
- Youth prevention programs
- Closing the gap in childhood care
- Advancing arthritis equity
- Solving arthritis for women
- Arthritis-aware workplaces
YOUR ROLE IN TRANSFORMATION
Join the movement in making arthritis impossible to ignore. Use your voice and platform to elevate arthritis as a national health priority.
Join the movement to end arthritis
For more information about Arthritis Action Now: The Plan to End Arthritis in Canada, visit www.arthritisactionplan.ca or contact [email protected]
ARTHRITIS ACTION NOW’S CHAMPION PARTNERS
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THANKS TO OUR DONORS
We are deeply grateful to the following organizations and individuals, listed alphabetically, whose generous financial contributions ranged from $20,000 to more than $100,000 to Arthritis Society Canada in support of the plan:
- Canadian Institutes of Health Research – Institute of Musculoskeletal Health and Arthritis
- Canadian Rheumatology Association
- John and Mary Crocker
- Anna Maria Frediani
- GreenShield
- Medline Canada, Corporation
- Lynn and Tom Oldfield
