Event Summary

We have come a long way since the first Rare Disease Day in 2008, when 18 countries participated. This year, Rare Disease Day was celebrated in a record 101 countries, bringing together patient groups, policymakers, healthcare professionals, and industry representatives.

The #ShowYourRare campaign saw another successful year, with thousands of people using the hashtag to raise awareness and show their support.

The theme for this year was “Bridging Health and Social Care,” focusing on improving coordination between medical, social, and support services to address the daily challenges faced by people living with rare diseases and their families.

Thousands of events took place across every continent!

We welcomed eight new countries to the movement: Dominican Republic, Lesotho, Montenegro, Namibia, Niger, Qatar, Sri Lanka, and Zambia.

A Rare Disease Day Policy Event, the Second High-Level Event of the NGO Committee for Rare Diseases, took place at the United Nations in New York, sponsored by the Permanent Mission of Estonia to the UN.

Media Coverage

Rare Disease Day 2019 was reported across the world, from the USA to Serbia, to Malaysia, to the Vatican City!

Social Media Coverage