Coordinated database must to treat rare diseases: Experts an hour ago Mariecar Jara-Puyod, Senior Reporter The socio-economic impact of rare diseases which regional medical experts claim, affect 2.2 million children of the 2.97 million afflicted in the Middle East, is resolvable by way of a multi-sectoral collaborative approach. Through a multi-sectoral collaborative approach, it is hoped that a well-organised and coordinated, national to regional constantly updated rare diseases database is achieved, towards the realisation of implementable country to region-wide policies. This calls for the active participation of and cooperation among policy makers, doctors and nurses, educators, non-government organisations, support groups and the pharmaceutical industry. Awareness campaigns as well as continuous research and development for therapeutics and advanced evidence-based scientific remedies are seen as solutions.