Women are twice as likely as men to suffer from arthritis and more than 305,000 women are affected by the problem, according to figures presented by the Irish Pharmaceutical Union.
Despite this, only four of the State's eight health boards provide rheumatology outpatient services; no health board has its recommended number of rheumatologists; and three regions have no approved rheumatologist at all, the IPU says.
The union has chosen arthritis as the subject for its second annual information month, which started yesterday.
Throughout October, pharmacies will be distributing information on the subject, and the IPU is hosting Arthritis Information Day at the RDS, Dublin, on October 18th.
Introducing the initiative, the IPU president, Mr Diarmuid O'Donovan, said arthritis was "much more than just a few aches and pains. It is a serious health problem that can change a woman's lifestyle, self-image and ability to work.
"It can create added stresses and problems during pregnancy. But it doesn't have to be this way and now is the time to learn more about it".
The president of the Arthritis Foundation of Ireland, Mr Vincent Finn, said the effects of arthritis went well beyond the statistics of sufferers. "Even if a woman does not develop arthritis herself, she must often bear a significant burden in caring for a loved one with the disease."
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