On 28 February, the Department of Hospital Therapy held a round table dedicated to International Orphan (Rare) Disease Day. The event was led by Associate Professors Balandina Yu. A. and Rodygina E. N., with the participation of medical students of the Faculty of Foreign Students.

      International Rare Disease Day is observed annually on 29 February, or on 28 February in non-leap years. Its main goal is to raise public awareness of the issue of orphan diseases, which, despite their low prevalence, require a high level of medical expertise.

      Every general practitioner may encounter a patient suffering from a rare disease in their practice. The key task of the specialist is to suspect the pathology in time, conduct a thorough further examination, and make a diagnosis as early as possible. It makes it possible to prescribe the necessary treatment and positively influence the prognosis of the disease's progression for the individual patient.

      During the meeting, participants of the round table exchanged opinions, learned new information, and analysed existing experience in managing patients with rare diseases in different countries.

      The event highlighted that increasing doctors' awareness of rare diseases is an important step toward improving the global situation in this field.