07/12/2007 (Agence Europe) - According to a study carried out by EURORDIS and published at the fourth European Conference on Rare Diseases, which was held in Lisbon on 27 and 28 November, patients with rare diseases are still being turned away by health professionals too often. Out of 6000 patients surveyed, 69% of them replied that they had been turned away by a healthcare professional in the previous 12 months, generally due to a lack of awareness of the disease or communication problems. This study also shows that women are most likely to fall victim to this kind of discrimination. The multidisciplinary approach still remains the exception to the rule. Only one third of patients had been assisted by a social worker over the previous 12 months. Access to social aid generally takes more than five years. (O.J.)