Table 1.
Definition of rare diseases in various countries.
| Country | WHO Region | Definition of rare diseases (prevalence) | Definition of rare diseases (fixed no.) | Persons per 10,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Argentina | AMR | 5/10,000 | – | 5 |
| Brazil | AMR | 65/100,000 | – | 6.5 |
| Peru | AMR | 1/100,000 | – | 0.1 |
| Chile | AMR | 5/10,000 | – | 5 |
| Colombia | AMR | 2/10,000 | – | 2 |
| Ecuador | AMR | 1/10,000 | – | 1 |
| Mexico | AMR | 5/10,000 | – | 5 |
| Panama | AMR | 5/10,000 | – | 5 |
| European Union (EU) | EUR | 5/10,000 | – | 5 |
| United States of America | AMR | – | 200,000 | 5.9 |
The table shows the difference in “Rare Diseases” definitions in Latin America, the European Union, and the United States. It highlights the importance of effectively implementing the universal description of rare diseases, proposed by Rare Diseases International (RDI) in May 2022, at the World Health Assembly (WHA).