In countries with government sponsored health care systems, ministries of health generally oversee the coverage, treatment guidelines, and medical funding for patients with lysosomal storage disorders.

Government ministeries of health generally consider the following issues related to LSDs:

General policies on orphan diseases (rare diseases are officially defined by the low number of patients expected to be born with a disease).

Guidelines for diagnosis, treatment and monitoring of LSD's that establish a country’s preferred management regimen related to an LSD.

Establishment of independent advisory groups that help the government set recognized guidelines.

Establishment of reimbursement criteria based on agreed upon guidelines.

Relations with professional and patient societies.

Patients and their families can contact a patient society in their region or country to learn more about the guidelines and government policies for their country.

Visit our Patient Society page for some of the international patient societies related to the LSDs.