Brussels, 04/03/2014 (Agence Europe) - During European Rare Disease Day on 28 February this year, European Commissioner Tony Borg explained that the European Commission and member states would continue to work flat out to ensure that every patient suffering from a rare disease has access to the best diagnosis and care. The commissioner seized the opportunity provided by this event to draw up a balance sheet of the progress made in the area of research into rare diseases. Sixteen member states have so far adapted a national plan to push forward research in this field and several others are working on this objective. The European Commission has called for greater cooperation between member states for sharing the results of their research, particularly with regard to developing medicines. It is also working in close collaboration with the member states to further develop ORPHANET1, the rare disease and orphan medicines portal, which has so far identified 5868 different rare diseases. In the near future, the European reference networks set up as part of the European directive on patients' rights in cross-border healthcare (aimed at helping professionals and national expertise centres to share their knowledge), will prove extremely valuable in facilitating the sharing of knowledge. The Commission has also helped to set up the International Rare Diseases Consortium, which seeks to enhance international cooperation for 200 new cutting-edge treatments for the period leading up to 2020 in an effort to help treat rare diseases and improve diagnosis. (IL)