1. To develop a Legal Department in a MS Society María Inés Bianco Argentina Lawyer Speciality: Health and Disability Rights September, 2003

2. Different Point of view of the illness Legal Rights of the person with MS Questions to solve connected with MS: a) Cover of the drugs b) Cover of the disability treatments c) Working rights d) Family questions: food assistance, divorces e) Social Security f) Accesibility d) Discrimination María Inés Bianco - Argentina

3. Causes for the birth of a Legal Department in MS Society in Argentina 1.- High price of the drugs and disability treatments and the negative of the cover from the responsible persons 2.- Lack of protection of the rights before 1997 3.- The treatments were available in Argentina since 1997 4.- Legal cover of health and disability treatments since 1997 5.- Lack of information of people about their health's rights 6.- The Sanitary Emergency declared by the Government María Inés Bianco - Argentina

4. Rights of a person with MS in Argentina  100% cover of drugs and disability treatments  Integral / whole protection of disability's requirements  Integral /whole protection of disability's requirements at work  Social Security  Food Assitance  No discrimination María Inés Bianco - Argentina

5. HEALTH SYSTEM  HEALTH SECURE = WORKERS  PRIVATE SYSTEM = PRE-PAID MEDICINE  THE STATE PROTECTION = INDIGENT PEOPLE María Inés Bianco - Argentina

6. LEGAL DEPARTMENT at E.M.A. María Inés Bianco - Argentina  Born: july 2000  Population Assisted: 2.243  Population with MS in Argentina = 6000  Geographic zone: Buenos Aires, Capital = 42% Buenos Aires, Province = 31 %  Other Provinces of Argentina and MS Society of the interior of the country = 27%  Result: 99% of the people has the legal cover of health and disability treatments

7. LEGAL DEPARTMENT at E.M.A. María Inés Bianco - Argentina Total 100%

8. LEGAL DEPARTMENT at E.M.A. María Inés Bianco - Argentina Total 2243 Patients

9. Legal Questions related to MS María Inés Bianco - Argentina Period: july 2000 to july 2003Number of population: 2243 (s/6000)

10. Achievements of the legal department 1.- Cover of health and disability of the people with M S. 2.- Cover of health and disability of the indigent people 3.- To mantain the cover during the Sanitary Emergency in Health Cover 4.- Participation in the derogation of Sanitary Emergency in Disability Cover (action of collective incidence) 5.- Give information, answer and support to people with MS related with the lack of disability cover 6.- To Work on legal proyects related to Indigent People with Ms 7.- To colaborate in the advise and legal information to MS organization of the interior of the country and also neighbour countries as Chile, etc. María Inés Bianco - Argentina

11. Function of a lawyer in a legal department in a MS organization 1.- To inform 2.- To advise and support in each case 3.- To defend in front of the Court 4.- To defend and protect indigent people with Ms. 5.- To work on the design of the laws related to this illness (law proyects to the Chambers) 6.- To participate in action of collective incidence María Inés Bianco - Argentina

12. Questions? María Inés Bianco - Argentina