Persistent Gaps in Global Rheumatology Care and Research.

Rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases are highly prevalent globally. Regional disparities in access to care often lead to delayed diagnosis and treatment, resulting in significant disability. Rheumatologists are disproportionately concentrated in high-income countries and urban centers, creating barriers to care for populations in low and middle-income countries and rural areas. Diagnosis is a challenge in underserved areas, and treatment is often delayed due to prohibitive costs. Inequities in access to research limit the generation of evidence and hinder the development of public health policies. We discuss telehealth, workforce strengthening, improved access to cost-effective generic medications, and support for multicenter studies as possible solutions.