Speaking at the conference “Living with multiple sclerosis in Romania”, Health State Secretary Raed Arafat said that 6,000 to 8,000 Romanians are suffering from multiple sclerosis and need treatment. The health official pointed out that 2,300 patients benefit from treatment via the multiple sclerosis national programme, with 500 more on the waiting list. In his turn, Labour State Secretary Codrin Scutaru said the disease should be considered a social emergency, adding that Romania could have an electronic records system of handicapped persons in place by the end of next year.