Walk In My Shoes” spotlights the invisible struggles of people living with Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
– a public health awareness initiative by Roche in collaboration with Multiple Sclerosis Society of India (MSSI)
Mumbai, August 22, 2025 ( TGN ): Millions globally and ~2 lakh people in India live with a life-limiting neurological condition called Multiple Sclerosis (MS). The disease affects their central nervous system, depriving them of their ability to perform simple everyday tasks like walking, cooking, bathing or the strength to hold a child. Their day-to-day struggle remains hidden and performing everyday tasks can feel like scaling an invisible mountain.
One can’t see and feel the burden MS patients carry. To bring a spotlight on MS, Roche Pharma India, in collaboration with the Multiple Sclerosis Society of India (MSSI) presents Walk In My Shoes – a public health awareness initiative to highlight the often invisible struggles of individuals living with this life-limiting neurological condition.
Visit the #WalkInMyShoes simulation zone installed at Mumbai Phoenix MarketCity, Kurla (Atrium 5, LG Floor), from 22 to 24 August to experience what it means to live with MS. One can also visit the simulation zone in Bangalore at Brookfield Ecospace Park, Bellandur (Near 1C), from 20 to 22 August and at Select City Walk Mall (H&M Wing, Ground floor), Saket, New Delhi, from 22 to 24 August. These simulation zones offer visitors ‘education through experience’ by re-creating a sensory experience of four of the most commonly occurring MS symptoms – loss of balance, motor impairment, blurry vision and loss of sensitivity, while bringing to the forefront the everyday hardships faced by MS patients.
You can also lend your voice by sharing your support to their invisible struggles using #WalkInMyShoes Each post, tweet or reel helps shatter the silence around MS and ensure no one living with MS ever feels unseen. In addition to the sensory simulation kiosks, www.walkinmyshoes.in – a knowledge hub for authentic, credible and medically verified information on MS is also launched. www.walkinmyshoes.in aims to become a trusted digital platform, playing a crucial role in elevating public literacy about MS, while empowering individuals to understand and act upon evidence based health information.
“At Roche, our mission goes far beyond medicines. We are deeply committed to reimagining how chronic and life-altering conditions like Multiple Sclerosis are perceived, diagnosed, and managed,” said Rajji Mehdwan, Managing Director & CEO – India & Neighbouring Markets, Roche Pharma. “With #WalkInMyShoes, we are not just raising awareness, we are igniting empathy, amplifying patient voices, and driving meaningful change across the healthcare ecosystem. By partnering with MSSI, we are uniting science with compassion to break the silence around MS, champion timely intervention, and push for an inclusive, patient-centric approach where no individual living with MS is left behind. This is not just a campaign—it’s a clarion call to action.”
MS often strikes between the ages of 20 and 40, a time when individuals are building careers, pursuing passions, and starting families. It is the leading cause of non-traumatic disability among young adults and, if untreated, can progress to severe and life-limiting disability. Women, who are two to three times more likely than men to develop MS, face additional worries: how the disease will impact their ability to conceive, carry a pregnancy, and care for a child.
“Multiple Sclerosis often remains an invisible burden, largely due to limited public awareness, restricted access to specialized neurologists in Tier‑2 and Tier‑3 cities, and frequent mis or delayed diagnosis,” says Mr. Sandeep Chitnis (National Hon. Secretary – MSSI). “Too many individuals silently suffer, untreated and unseen, because the healthcare ecosystem and public understanding lag behind. Early, accurate diagnosis and timely intervention aren’t just clinical ideals—they’re critical lifelines that can transform long‑term outcomes and restore dignity to those living with MS. No one should suffer in silence when a chance to live a fuller life exists. At MSSI, we remain steadfast in our advocacy to demand fair, transparent and comprehensive insurance coverage for MS patients and address systemic inequities. We are representing for change in the disability assessment guidelines for MS patients. The benchmark disability requirement for getting benefits under RPWD Act 2016 should be waived for MS patients. This is necessary, as MS patients suffer from many invisible symptoms, which can’t be objectively quantified and also owing to the intermittent nature of MS, where a patient will be looking absolutely normal, when not suffering from an attack. This results in denial of disability certificates, depriving patients from getting any benefit under RPWD Act. Together, we can build a future where every person with MS receives the care, support, and recognition they deserve.”
“MS is still one of the most complex and debilitating neurological diseases, especially since it tends to strike young adults at the prime of their youth.’, stated Dr. Ramesh Patankar, DM Neurology – Senior Consultant at SL Raheja Fortis Hospital, Mahim. “Symptoms can range from mild numbness or vision issues to progressive disability, if left untreated. High-efficacy therapies (HETs) play a critical role in delaying disability and improving quality of life. Yet, in India, only about 10% of diagnosed patients currently access them. We must urgently raise awareness about these treatments and educate general practitioners to help reduce diagnostic delays. Equitable access to HETs and comprehensive insurance coverage must become a national priority.” he added.
About Roche
Roche Products (India) Private Limited was incorporated in 1994 as a wholly owned subsidiary of the Roche Group, headquartered in Basel, Switzerland. Roche is the world’s largest biotech company with a legacy spanning over 128 years, and a truly differentiated product portfolio in oncology, rare diseases, ophthalmology, hematology and diseases of the central nervous system. Roche is deeply committed to advancing the understanding and treatment of multiple sclerosis and other neurological disorders to address the unmet needs in this disease area. For more information, visit www.rocheindia.com
About MSSI
The Multiple Sclerosis Society of India (MSSI) is a registered voluntary, non-profit organization established in 1985, dedicated to supporting individuals affected by Multiple Sclerosis (MS) across the country. MSSI is affiliated with the Multiple Sclerosis International Federation (MSIF), UK, and is part of a global network committed to improving the lives of people living with MS. At the national level, MSSI spearheads unified initiatives that strengthen and amplify the efforts of its regional chapters. Through collaborative action and a cohesive voice, MSSI advocates for the rights and needs of Persons with Multiple Sclerosis (PwMS). For more information, visit www.mssocietyindia.org
