Mr. Speaker, hundreds of millions of people throughout the world suffer from disabling musculo-skeletal conditions which are the most frequent causes of serious chronic pain and disability.
The prediction is that human suffering will intensify as people live longer and there are more and more accident victims.
The resulting health problems will create a major economic burden which will force governments to spend more and could eventually lead to patients being deprived of the treatment and rehabilitation they require.
I wish to point out that the United Nations, through their Secretary-General Kofi Annan, have supported the proposal for designation of the decade 2000-2010 as the decade devoted to improving the quality of life of people throughout the world who are suffering from conditions and injuries affecting the bones and joints.