Osteoarthritis is a serious and very common osteoarticular disease, affecting about 19% of the population. It is one of the main causes of pain and disability in Western countries. OA is the leading cause of disability and the primary source of impairment and pain among patients. It is also the most common chronic disease.
In France, this is a major public health challenge, affecting nearly 15 million people who too often suffer in silence. Osteoarthritis is only part of the picture – many rheumatic diseases are concerned. For millions of patients, pain is not occasional; it is a daily reality that deeply affects their quality of life.
A Key Step Toward the Recognition of Pain in Osteoarthritis
AFLAR decided to place this disease to the forefront of the public and political agenda by organising a roundtable at the Senate, an emblematic institution of French political power, about “Osteoarthritis, a scourge: hands, knees… Let’s face together the challenge of disability and pain”. On June 17, 2025, AFLAR brought together patients, healthcare professionals, and political figures (Minister of Health, Members of Parliament and Senators) to discuss the issue of osteoarthritis: a burden that requires a collective response to the challenge of disability and pain.
This enabled AFLAR to place the issue of pain and osteoarthritis on the political agenda and to put patients back at the center of policymakers’ concerns. It was an important first step, allowing the platform to propose solutions to better address the pain experienced by people in France.