Despite occurrence over a small percentage of the population, rare diseases are often chronic and life-threatening. Around five new rare diseases are described in medical literature every week. Attention to the special challenges faced by these patients has been sought internationally by an annual Rare Disease Day on the last day of each February.

A multidisciplinary team approach (MDT) is considered best practice in the treatment planning and care for patients in challenging clinical situation. It is an integrated team approach to health care in which medical and allied health care professionals consider all relevant treatment options and collaboratively develop an individual treatment and care plan for each patient.