OBJECTIVES: Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a major public health problem in Turkey with high cost implications. The objective of this study is to analyze the economic burden of illness for MS in Turkey, both from the payer’s and society’s perspective. METHODS: The study consists of two parts, estimating direct and indirect costs of MS. Direct costs are assessed in two phases. Initially, in order to identify the direct costs of medicines, physician admissions, physiotherapy and diagnostic test requirements related with MS, a Delphi Panel was conducted with the participation of 9 neurologists. The second phase consisted of utilizing the insights gathered from the Panel, MS prevalence data for Turkey and Health Implementation Notification price lists. For the indirect costs, human capital approach has been preferred. Data sets from labor statistics and population/age distribution published by Turkish Statistical Institute (TurkStat) have been used. RESULTS: There are approximately 31.926 MS patients in Turkey. The direct costs including diagnosis, treatment of MS attacks and symptoms, for RRMS, PPMS, SPMS are found to be 705.745.333 TRY (~134 mEUR) in total for the payer. Medicines make only 61% of this direct burden of illness in MS. The indirect costs and economic losses caused by loss of productivity due to MS, are consisting of factors such as absenteeism, early retirement, early death, and cost of caregivers, which is a service required by most MS patients, and indirect costs sum up to 1.879.454.246 TRY (~358 mEUR) for the society. CONCLUSIONS: Cost studies provide an evidence-based guidance for decision-makers. Direct and indirect costs can be analyzed for a comprehensive evaluation of budget impact and comparison of alternative medicines. Innovative medicines in the field of MS prevent disease progression and hence it can be expected that these are going to result in an overall public benefit in the future.